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The local leader of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the monstrous flooding and widespread destruction wrought by the disaster.

Speaking on the harrowing experience, Richard Solomon described riding out the intense storm at an emergency operating centre.

“The entire town of this area is in ruins,” he stated. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the national leader classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are reported dead, but Solomon mentioned hearing reports of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and transportation difficulties.

“The hurricane arrived around eight in the morning and continued for around several hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We got up to 4.8 metres of water at the emergency operating centre. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any further, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon stated that Black River, located in the hard-hit southwest parish of the area, is lacking running water and power, and most buildings have lost their roofs. An authority earlier characterized the town as under water, with over 500,000 inhabitants lacking electricity. A landslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their homes and trying to salvage their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become extremely difficult because all the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.

The mayor is now concentrating on working to help the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the devastation.

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. My roof went, so I do understand the suffering that people are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on securing assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

The mayor estimates that it will take billions of local currency to restore the community after the hurricane's destruction. For now, he states, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can get relief supplies in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to offer goods to persons who are in dire straits at this time,” he adds.

The prime minister has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area revealing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive task to restore Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it rising stronger and improved,” he informed reporters.

“We will get it done. So keep the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he said.