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The local leader of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous flooding and widespread destruction caused by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor described enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

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

Several people from Black River are reported dead, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

“Storm Melissa arrived around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts 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 rise any further, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary experience for us.”

The mayor explained that the town, located in the hard-hit southwest region of the area, is without running water and electricity, and most buildings have lost their roofs. One official earlier characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A landslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have proven 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 Solomon.

The mayor is now focused on trying to assist the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the personal impact of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. The roofing went, so I do understand the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most at-risk at this time,” he explains.

The mayor believes that it will take millions of local currency to restore Black River after the hurricane's destruction. For now, he says, the priority is clearing 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. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.

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.

“This will be a massive task to restore Black River. But although it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it rising stronger and better,” he told reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he said.