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This local leader of Black River – a community referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the immense flooding and extensive destruction caused by the disaster.

Speaking on the harrowing experience, the mayor recalled enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.

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

Five individuals from the town are confirmed to have died, but Solomon noted hearing reports of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and transportation difficulties.

“The hurricane came around eight in the morning and continued for around several hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We got up to 4.8 metres 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 scary experience for us.”

Solomon stated that Black River, located in the hard-hit south-western region of St Elizabeth, is without running water and power, and the majority of buildings have had their roofs. One official earlier described the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants without power. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their homes and attempting to salvage their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become almost impossible because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.

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

“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most at-risk at this point,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of local currency to restore Black River after the hurricane's destruction. For now, 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 relief supplies in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to offer goods to individuals who are in need at this time,” he says.

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

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

“It will be accomplished. So keep the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.