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The mayor of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense flooding and widespread devastation caused by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor described enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.

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

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed dead, but Solomon mentioned receiving word of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel difficulties.

“Storm Melissa came around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding 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 I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

The mayor stated that the town, situated in the severely affected south-western parish of the area, is without water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have had their roofs. An authority previously described the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Residents are now removing water from their houses and trying to rescue their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.

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

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. My roof was lost, so I do understand the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this time,” he explains.

The mayor estimates that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild Black River after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he says, the main goal is removing debris from impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to offer goods to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he adds.

The prime minister has seen the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the region revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.

“This will be a massive task to restore Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging stronger and better,” he informed reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.