NAIROBI, May 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Torrential rains, flush floods and landslides have been sweeping central and western parts of Kenya since the weekend, and the local authorities are taking measures to aid the besieged people and to prevent the possible outbreak ofepidemic.

    The flood havoc has so far claimed at least six people's lives and caused some 5,000 others displaced.

    The dead, including a child, were washed away when river burst banks.

    In Nyando district in the western province of Nyanza, near Lake Victoria, the scheduled reopening of schools for the second term hit a snag and a lot of buildings are collapsing as flood waters continue to rise there.

    In Rift Valley province, the flood did not spare roads which were either washed away or left with huge gullies. Some areas haveeven been cut off in the province.

    In the capital Nairobi, people had a hectic time getting to their working places owing to flush floods following heavy rains early Monday. Several residents were marooned in their houses, unable to get out, while most residents were forced to stay indoors, watching helplessly as the raging floods swept anything at their doorsteps.

    The chaos has also been extended to the transport sector with commuter vehicles having to use alternative routes and hiking fares across the country.

    Meanwhile, an outbreak of epidemic due to the heavy rains has been cautioned in the country.

    Rains are particularly widespread in Kenya between March and May every year which is called the "long rain season." But some meteorologists say that this year's flood is somehow abnormal in the country.

    The Kenyan government has taken some measures hoping to reduce the losses of the flood.

    Kenyan police spokesman Jaspher Ombati told Xinhua that aid workers have been helping to evacuate people and distributing food and blankets in the flood-hit region.

    Kenya Red Cross official Farid Abdukadir told Xinhua that the agent has delivered relief supplies to the affected areas. However,"we are unable to access the interior because of flooded roads. Wesuspect more people could be trapped in there (the affected region)," he said.

    The Kenya Ministry of Health has intensified preventive measures and the public hospitals countrywide have prepared drugs in dealing with the outbreak of epidemic.

    The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned of increased landslides in Central province during the coming days. Enditem¡¡