Deadly flooding in Kentucky prompts governor to declare state of emergency, search and rescue efforts underway

[Breaking news update, published at 6:20 p.m. ET]

Four people have died in widespread Kentucky floods Saturday, including three in Madison County and one in Jackson County, Gov. Andy Beshear’s office said.

[Original story, published at 5:52 p.m. ET

Deadly, widespread flooding across Kentucky on Saturday has led to dozens of rescues, wiped out bridges and inundated roads, with more significant rainfall expected after the governor declared a state of emergency to deploy more resources.

There could be “multiple fatalities” due to the floods but it is unclear how many as search and rescue efforts continue, Gov. Andy Beshear said, citing at least one motorist who was killed after being swept away by flash flooding.

Six to seven inches of rain has fallen in some areas of the state and a second round of rainfall will ramp up as the evening goes on, the governor said, as he urged people to be cautious and avoid unnecessary driving.

“When it gets dark, it’s going to get even worse. So please, do not drive after dark if you can avoid it,” Beshear said.

The severe weather event is the latest in a history of catastrophic flooding in Kentucky, including deadly flash floods in early 2025 when more than a month’s worth of rain deluged much of the state in less than 24 hours. Dozens of people in Kentucky were killed in 2022 when unprecedented flooding inundated houses and swept away some from their foundations.

Precautionary evacuations are underway in one part of Bullitt County, which has been hit particularly hard by Saturday’s flooding as officials closely monitor a dam.

A portion of the embankment has experienced a landslide, but the dam is holding and there’s no indication of an “imminent failure,” county emergency management officials said.

The Millon Church in Richmond appeared to have collapsed, a video showed. Earlier in the day, the church announced its Saturday service was canceled due to the storm, adding: “Praying everyone stays safe.”

Photos provided by police in Richmond show officers blocking off flooded streets and checking on stranded vehicles almost entirely submerged by rising floodwaters.

Also, in Madison County, “significant roads” are under water, with five search and rescue teams on the ground, the governor said.

Five counties, including Bullitt, Madison, Meade, Mercer and Spencer have declared a local state of emergency, the governor’s office said.

CNN has contacted those five counties under a local state of emergency for further information about the effects of the flooding.

At least 12 roads across the state are flooded and cannot be accessed, while numerous bridges in counties like Jessamine have been “entirely wiped out,” the governor said.

Dozens of rescues have been made, Beshear said. The state’s emergency management, state police and swift water rescue teams are responding to emergency requests in local communities, he added.

“We know we’ve already lost at least a handful of Kentuckians. I don’t want to lose anymore,” he said, adding the storms have become “much more severe than most would have thought.”

This story has been updated with additional information.