Residents in parts of western Kenya woke up to scenes of destruction and uncertainty as heavy rains continued to pound the region, turning calm villages into flood zones overnight.
Families scrambled to salvage belongings while others sought higher ground as water levels rose rapidly, cutting off access roads and submerging homes.
The situation escalated after River Nyando burst its banks, triggering widespread flooding across sections of Kisumu County.
According to the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, at least 265 households have been affected, with emergency response teams working tirelessly to evacuate residents trapped by rising waters.
Authorities confirmed that six children who were separated from their parents during the chaos have since been rescued and are currently under care in designated shelters.
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Efforts are ongoing to reunite them with their families as rescue operations intensify.
Emergency services, including the Kenya Red Cross Society and local disaster response units, have been deployed to the worst-hit areas.
Boats and rescue teams have been instrumental in reaching marooned residents, many of whom were stranded on rooftops or isolated patches of land.
Officials warn that the situation could worsen if the heavy rains persist. Several low-lying areas remain at high risk, with water levels continuing to rise due to sustained rainfall in the Nyando Basin.
Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and relocate to safer areas as a precaution.
Local leaders have called for urgent humanitarian support, citing shortages of food, clean water and essential supplies in temporary shelters.
Schools and churches in safer zones have been converted into evacuation centers, now hosting displaced families.
The flooding has also disrupted transport and economic activities, with key roads rendered impassable and farms submerged, raising concerns over food security in the coming weeks.
Government agencies say they are coordinating closely to ensure swift response and recovery efforts.
Meanwhile, meteorological forecasts indicate continued rainfall in the region, prompting renewed calls for preparedness among communities living near rivers and flood-prone zones.
As rescue operations continue, the focus now shifts to providing relief to affected families and preventing further loss of life in what is shaping up to be one of the most severe flooding incidents in the region in recent months.
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