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This mayor of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and extensive destruction wrought by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon recalled enduring the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency response center.

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

Several people from the town are confirmed dead, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of additional fatalities that are still being verified due to communication and transportation difficulties.

“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the response center. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any more, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon explained that the town, located in the severely affected south-western parish of the area, is without water and power, and the majority of structures have had their roofs. An authority earlier described the town as under water, with over half a million inhabitants without power. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their homes and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.

He is now concentrating on working to help the neediest residents, while also coping with the individual toll of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was completely submerged by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most at-risk at this point,” he says.

The mayor estimates that it will take billions of local currency to rebuild the community after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he says, the priority is removing debris from blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to get the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to offer goods to persons who are in dire straits at this time,” 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 lost.

“This will be a enormous task to rebuild this historic town. But while it is damaged, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he informed reporters.

“We will get it done. So keep the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.