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This mayor of the town of Black River – a community described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense storm surges and widespread destruction wrought by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the traumatic ordeal, Richard Solomon described enduring the intense storm at an emergency operating centre.

“The entire town of this area is devastated,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic 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 deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel challenges.

“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We got up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. 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 climbing, it was a scary moment for us.”

The mayor explained that Black River, located in the hard-hit south-western parish of St Elizabeth, is without water and power, and the majority of buildings have had their roofs. An authority previously described the town as under water, with over 500,000 inhabitants lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and trying to rescue their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says Solomon.

He is now focused on trying to assist the neediest residents, while also dealing with the personal impact of the disaster.

“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after Melissa’s annihilation. For now, he says, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.

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

“It is going to be a massive task to restore this historic town. But although it is damaged, we can envision a future of it rising stronger and improved,” he told reporters.

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