Reaching Black River, a coastal town in Jamaica's southwestern parish of St Elizabeth, is now a difficult journey. The area took the full force of Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest Atlantic storms ever recorded.
Uprooted trees, fallen power lines, landslide debris and deep silt from flooding have made the roads nearly impassable. In several communities, floodwater has turned streets into rivers.
By Thursday, traffic around Black River was at a standstill. Police and army personnel tried to manage the flow as vehicles stalled in the water. Along the route, homes and buildings lay in ruins, many stripped of roofs or filled with debris.
As travellers approach Black River, described as ground zero for Hurricane Melissa's impact, the extent of the destruction becomes clear. Nearly every building has lost its roof, and the town centre now looks like a demolition site.
Among the wreckage are residents trying to make sense of their loss. Families have taken shelter in bus stops and are searching through debris for food and belongings. Many came to the parish capital seeking help, only to find the same devastation.
Through tears, Beverly Stephens, who survived with her son and elderly mother, said: "Tell the world that Jamaica needs help." She described holding a door shut for hours as strong winds tried to tear it open.
The storm killed about 50 people across the Caribbean -- 19 in Jamaica and 31 in Haiti. Communication networks in Jamaica and Cuba remain limited, and officials warn that the death toll may rise. Around 462,000 people in Jamaica are still without electricity, according to the country's information minister.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Hurricane Melissa matched a 1935 record as the most intense Atlantic storm to make landfall when it hit Jamaica on Tuesday.
One woman in Black River said she was heading to the police to report a death, while another said she had lost everything. Annette Royal, visiting from Westmoreland, said: "The country mash up. We need food, we need water, we need shelter, we need everything to survive, because if we don't get all of things we will suffer in Jamaica."
Aston McCatty, a religious education teacher, said rebuilding will take "billions upon billions." Pointing to a destroyed parish church, he added: "You are looking at hundreds of years of history, in one day totally destroyed. How do you rebuild all of this?"
In nearby Treasure Beach, residents also faced heavy losses. The hurricane swept away an entire beachfront restaurant and even dislodged tombstones.
Allan Daley, 67, a fisherman, said his roof was damaged and his boat smashed by a drifting container. "I am 67, I went through hurricanes, including Gilbert, and I have never seen anything like this," he said. "It was the hardest wind I ever felt in my life."
Owen Clarke, a hotel owner who suffered storm damage for the second year in a row after Hurricane Beryl, called for more support for small businesses. "It's really bad. We don't have electricity, we need material like zinc, board, cement, steel, nails," he said.
Tourists caught in Hurricane Melissa have also been assessing the damage. Sri Sudevi, from London, and her daughter Rachel Dimond said they fled to the hills when the storm intensified. "Treasure Beach people look after each other," Dimond said. "If I have to be anywhere for a hurricane, I'd be in Treasure Beach."
Nearby, local chef Candace Dryden led a World Food Kitchen effort to serve meals and water to those without power. "A warm plate of food will remind people that they're still home," she said.
Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie, head of the Jamaica Environment Trust, said Melissa's power and slow movement are "clear signs of climate change." She warned that stronger and wetter storms are becoming more common in the region and could strain recovery efforts if emissions are not reduced.
As night fell in St Elizabeth, military vehicles carrying mattresses and supplies rolled toward Black River, bringing hope of relief for those left struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.
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