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This mayor of the town of Black River – a community referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and widespread devastation caused by the disaster.

Speaking on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon described riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of this area is in ruins,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from Black River are reported to have died, but Solomon mentioned hearing reports of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and transportation difficulties.

“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We got up to 16ft of water at the emergency operating centre. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any further, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary moment for us.”

Solomon stated that the town, located in the severely affected southwest region of the area, is lacking water and electricity, and the majority of structures have had their roofing. One official previously described the town as under water, with over 500,000 inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to rescue their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become almost impossible because all the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

The mayor is now concentrating on working to assist the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the devastation.

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the suffering that people are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on securing assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains.

Solomon believes that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild Black River after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he states, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can get relief supplies in. Most of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to offer goods to individuals who are in dire straits at this time,” he says.

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

“It is going to be a enormous undertaking to restore this historic town. But while it is damaged, we can vision a tomorrow of it rising stronger and improved,” he informed local media.

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