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The local leader of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and widespread devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon described riding out the intense storm at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of this area is in ruins,” he stated. “The destruction is so severe that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.”

Several people from the town are reported to have died, but Solomon noted hearing reports of additional fatalities that are still being verified due to connectivity and transportation challenges.

“Storm Melissa arrived around eight in the morning and continued 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 frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any more, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary moment for us.”

The mayor explained that Black River, located in the hard-hit southwest region of the area, is lacking water and power, and most buildings have had their roofs. An authority earlier described the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants without power. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become extremely difficult because all the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, police, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

The mayor is now concentrating on trying to help the neediest residents, while also coping with the personal impact of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was completely submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.

The mayor estimates that it will take billions of local currency to rebuild Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he states, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can get aid in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to offer goods to persons who are in need at this moment,” he says.

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

“It is going to be a enormous undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a tomorrow of it rising stronger and better,” he told reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.