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Survival and desperation grip Jamaica's Black River after Hurricane Melissa
Residents of Black River, Jamaica, are scavenging through wreckage for food and water, days after Hurricane Melissa-one of the strongest Category 5 storms on record-devastated the coastal town. With roads destroyed, no electricity, and aid yet to arrive, the death toll has climbed to at least 19 in Jamaica, while neighboring Haiti reports 30 fatalities from the same storm.
'Total chaos' as supplies run out
Survivors describe a scene of anarchy, with looting rampant as people break into damaged stores, pharmacies, and supermarkets in search of essentials. Demar Walker, a local resident, explained how he and others climbed into a collapsed market to retrieve food and water, tossing supplies to those gathered below. "We didn't be selfish," he said. "We had to throw food to other people."
Aldwayne Tomlinson witnessed the looting of a pharmacy, where people carried off drugs and alcohol. "I heard a lady say, 'Mi need go get some alcohol,'" he recalled. "That's when I knew they were looting the pharmacy as well."
Infrastructure in ruins
Black River's mayor, Richard Solomon, confirmed that 90% of homes were destroyed, along with critical facilities like the hospital, police station, and fire station. "There are entire communities that seem to be marooned and areas that seem to be flattened," said Information Minister Dana Morris Dixon. Roads remain impassable, isolating the town from aid convoys.
Death toll rises as families remain separated
Walker, like many, has been unable to reach his eight-year-old son in nearby Westmoreland due to collapsed roads and no cell service. "There's no way of getting to my family to find out if they're OK," he said, his voice breaking. Others report finding bodies in the rubble, with officials warning the death count could rise further.
Military intervention brings fragile calm
By Friday afternoon, military helicopters arrived, dispersing crowds with armed personnel. The once-chaotic streets fell silent as residents waited for aid. "We need food and water," pleaded Shawn Morris. "It's not about the money."
Medical workers overwhelmed by injuries
Michael Tharkurdeen, a medic stationed at the town's fire station during the storm, described waves crashing through the building, flooding the ground floor. Survivors arrived with severe lacerations, while one man was found lifeless. "All we could do was document that and cover his body," he said.
Aid struggles to reach hardest-hit areas
While supplies are arriving in Kingston, regional airports and roads remain crippled. The two-hour drive from the capital to Black River is now a gauntlet of floods and debris. Officials acknowledge the slow response but cite logistical nightmares, including washed-out bridges and downed power lines.
