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This local leader of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the immense flooding and extensive destruction wrought by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor described riding out the intense storm at an emergency operating centre.

“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are reported to have died, but Solomon mentioned receiving word of other fatalities that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel challenges.

“The hurricane came around 8 a.m. and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We got up to 16ft of water at the response center. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any more, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary moment for us.”

The mayor stated that Black River, situated in the hard-hit southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking water and power, and the majority of structures have had their roofs. An authority previously described the town as under water, with more than 500,000 residents lacking electricity. A landslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to rescue their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.

The mayor is now concentrating on working to help the neediest residents, while also coping with the personal impact of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was totally submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he explains.

Solomon estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after the hurricane's annihilation. For now, he says, the priority is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this moment,” he adds.

The prime minister has seen the damage personally, with an flyover of the area revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.

“This will be a massive undertaking to restore Black River. But although it is damaged, we can envision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and better,” he told local media.

“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 affirmed.