Despair spreads after storm decimates Jamaican seaport

The road from Jamaica's capital to the seaside town of Black River was known for its lush bamboo forest that formed a natural tunnel and glowed green in the bright sun

- BY JOHN MYERS JR.

HURRICANE MELISSA left 90% of all structures in Black River without roofs.

(MATIAS DELACROIX Associated Press)

But its famed bamboo stalks lay strewn and shredded across the road in Hurricane Melissa's aftermath Thursday, forcing Jamaican soldiers to chop at them with machetes to partially reopen the main route to Black River, which the government has described as the storm's "ground zero."

Melissa came ashore just west of the town Tuesday, leaving up to 90% of all structures in Black River without roofs as it snapped power lines and toppled concrete structures.

One of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes to make landfall, Melissa has been blamed for at least 19 deaths in Jamaica, and 31 in nearby Haiti.

In the ruins of Black River, people scrambled for relief.

"People are hungry," said Monique Powell as she stood watch over a stash of grocery and household items for herself and a group of residents from Greenfield, one of the many hurricane-torn communities on the outskirts of Black River.

Helicopters hovered over isolated communities, dropping food as crews rushed to reopen roads.

"You are not forgotten," said Daryl Vaz, energy and transport minister.

More than 60% of Jamaica remains without power, and nearly half of its water systems are offline.