Days after Hurricane Melissa tore through Jamaica, the coastal town of Black River has become the epicentre of destruction — and despair.
Survivors wade through muddy streets, scavenging debris for food and water. With no electricity, clean water, or communication, the community is teetering on the edge of collapse.
“It’s chaos — total chaos. No food, no water,” said Chegun Braham, standing on a heap of wreckage. “We don’t have access to money. We need help. No help has come.”
Residents say they have seen no aid deliveries since the Category 5 storm struck, destroying roads and cutting off access to the town. Some have resorted to raiding damaged stores in search of food and bottled water.
“We have to use whatever we see — on the street or in the supermarket,” said Demar Walker, who helped distribute food from a collapsed market to other survivors. “We didn’t act selfishly; we had to share.”
Others described scenes of lawlessness, with pharmacies and shops being looted as hunger and thirst set in. “At first, I thought the store was still open,” said Aldwayne Tomlinson, “but then I realised people were running in and out carrying drugs and alcohol.”
Across the town, homes, hospitals, and public buildings have been destroyed. Mayor Richard Solomon said about 90% of houses in Black River were flattened, adding that while he doesn’t condone looting, he understands why people are desperate.
Officials report at least 19 deaths in Jamaica, with dozens more missing and 30 fatalities recorded in neighbouring Haiti. “My community has dead bodies,” Walker said quietly. “We can’t reach our families — the roads are gone, the phones are dead.”
Local medic Michael Tharkurdeen described the moment the hurricane hit: “The fire station flooded up to five feet. People came in with cuts and injuries — children, elders, everyone.”
By Friday afternoon, military helicopters arrived in Black River, bringing hope of relief. Armed personnel began restoring order as crowds that had been scavenging dispersed.
Still, hunger looms large. “It’s not about money,” said resident Shawn Morris. “We just need food and water.”
