Desperation has gripped the historic Jamaican town of Black River after Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful Atlantic storms ever recorded, tore through the island this week, leaving catastrophic devastation in its wake.
Once a proud seaport and cultural hub in Jamaica's south-western parish of St Elizabeth, Black River now lies in ruins. Roofs have been ripped clean off, streets are buried under mud and debris, and centuries-old Georgian buildings that once defined the town's heritage have been flattened beyond recognition.
