The extent of the devastation in Jamaica wreaked by Hurricane Melissa is becoming more apparent with each passing hour.

Rooftops ripped from houses, water-logged bedding and furniture, fallen utility poles and trees blocking roadways are the dominant scenes in the southwest of the island.

On the road to Black River, two hours south of Kingston, the roads were blocked by debris, isolating the town.

Later in the morning, civil defense workers worked to clear the roads for a convoy of about ten ambulances to get through.

Jamaican officials reported complications in assessing the damage because of outages.

At least one death was reported in the Jamaica's west when a tree fell on a baby, state minister Abka Fitz-Henley told the Nationwide News Network.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness plans to fly over the most affected areas, where crews were still trying to access areas and determine the extent of the damage.

Extensive damage was reported in parts of Clarendon in the south and in the southwestern parish of St. Elizabeth, which was "underwater,” according to an official.

He said the storm damaged four hospitals and left one without power, forcing officials to evacuate 75 patients.

The government said it hopes to reopen all of Jamaica’s airports as early as Thursday to ensure quick distribution of emergency relief supplies.

AP Video shot by Matias Delacroix