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The mayor of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the immense flooding and widespread destruction caused by the disaster.

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

“The entire town of this area is devastated,” he said. “The destruction is so severe that the national leader designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed to have died, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of additional fatalities that are still being verified due to communication and travel challenges.

“Storm Melissa arrived around eight in the morning and lasted for around several hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We got up to 4.8 metres of water at the emergency operating centre. That was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any further, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary experience for us.”

The mayor stated that Black River, situated in the hard-hit south-western parish of the area, is without water and power, and most structures have had their roofing. One official previously described the town as flooded, with over 500,000 residents without power. A landslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Residents are now removing water from their homes and attempting to salvage their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become extremely difficult because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

He is now concentrating on trying to assist the most vulnerable, while also coping with the personal impact of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was completely submerged by water. The roofing went, so I do understand the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on securing aid relief for the most at-risk at this point,” he explains.

The mayor believes that it will take millions of local currency to restore Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. For now, he says, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to offer goods to individuals who are in dire straits at this time,” he says.

The prime minister has seen the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the region revealing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a massive task to restore Black River. But although it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging stronger and improved,” he informed reporters.

“We will get it done. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.