'Apocalyptic' Black River surveys wrath of Melissa

It was a treacherous journey to Black River, a coastal town in Jamaica's southwestern parish of St Elizabeth, which last week bore the brunt of Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record.

- Natricia Duncan ST ELIZABETH

It was a treacherous journey to Black River, a coastal town in Jamaica's south-western parish of St Elizabeth, which last week bore the brunt of Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record.

Uprooted trees and lamp-posts, rubble from landslides, huge potholes and kilometres of thick, slippery silt from severe flooding had turned the route into a dangerous obstacle course.

But most daunting was the water that, overnight, had become rivers.

Approaching Black River, which has been branded ground zero for the category 5 hurricane's destruction, it became clear that almost every building in the vicinity had lost its roof.

Among the crumpled buildings were people-traumatised, grieving and desperate for help. Families with children who appeared to be setting up camp in a bus shelter and others scouring the debris for food pointed to an unfolding humanitarian crisis.

Some had come to Black River, St Elizabeth's parish capital, from neighbouring areas, hoping to find aid.