Hurricane Melissa , the strongest storm to ever hit Jamaica , and the largest on record this year, left widespread destruction in its wake Tuesday, obliterating buildings, ripping off roofs and flinging debris across the island.

At its peak, the storm brought winds of nearly 300 km/h, causing significant damage to the island’s southwestern and northwestern regions. The extent of the damage is still being evaluated.

Footage released by the Jamaica Constabulary Office captured scenes of destruction in the city of Black River, located in the southwestern parish of St. Elizabeth, after the Category 5 storm barrelled through the area.

The video shows cars half-submerged in flood waters and the remnants of downed infrastructure beside piles of mangled power lines.

🌀The Black River P

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