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The mayor of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense flooding and extensive devastation caused by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor recalled riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency response center.

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

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed dead, but Solomon noted receiving word of additional fatalities that are still being verified due to connectivity and transportation challenges.

“The hurricane arrived around eight in the morning and lasted for around several hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the response center. That 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.”

The mayor explained that the town, situated in the hard-hit south-western region of St Elizabeth, is without running water and power, and the majority of buildings have had their roofing. An authority previously characterized the town as under water, with over half a million residents without power. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to rescue their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, police, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.

He is now focused on working to assist the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the individual toll of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was totally submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing aid relief for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of local currency to rebuild Black River after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he states, the priority is removing debris from impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to get the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver aid in. Most of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to offer goods to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he adds.

The prime minister has seen the damage first-hand, with an flyover of the region showing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a enormous task to rebuild Black River. But while it is damaged, we can vision a future of it rising more resilient 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 reconstruct stronger,” he said.