Dozens of Palestinian families in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip were forced to flee their homes on Monday night after heavy rain and sewage floods stormed their homes in central Gaza, witnesses and medics said.

Hamas rulers told reporters that the floods of the heavy rainwater and sewage forced dozens of families living near Gaza valley in Johr el-Deik neighborhood to flee their homes.

Hamas civil defense and rescue teams declared a status of emergency in the Gaza Strip following heavy rain and floods that raged several areas in the impoverished enclave, mainly the central area.

Gaza rulers said that the flood of rain and sewage stormed the central Gaza Strip after Israel opened several dams on the borders between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel.

Witnesses said that the residents were obliged to evacuate for fear of infection with fatal diseases.

The civil defense forces are now in central Gaza Strip and southern Gaza City to evacuate other families who are stuck at their flooded homes.

Paramedics said that five Palestinian children were taken to Gaza hospitals for medical treatment after the floods deluged their homes.

Witnesses said that the raging waters coming from the borders between Israel and eastern Gaza Strip reached three meters and left several houses collapsed.