Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

Heavy flooding in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, has killed at least 10 people, with officials warning people to stay indoors to avoid animals that have escaped from a zoo.

The missing animals include tigers, lions, bears and wolves. Three of the dead people were found within the zoo.

A hippopotamus was cornered in one of the city's main squares and subdued with a tranquiliser gun.

Rescue workers are searching submerged homes to check for trapped residents.

Dozens of people have been left homeless.

A handout picture provided by the Georgian Prime Minister's press office shows a runaway bear sitting on the window of the second floor of a building on the flooded street in Tbilisi, Georgia on 14 June 2015

Heavy flooding in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, has killed at least 10 people, with officials warning people to stay indoors to avoid animals that have escaped from a zoo.

A municipal worker sits near the body of a lion at a flooded zoo area in Tbilisi (14 June 2015)

The flooding began when heavy rains caused the River Vere - normally little more than a stream - to burst its banks.

Thousands of people have been left without water and electricity while others have had to be airlifted to safety.

Mayor Davit Narmania said the situation was "very grave".

Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has called on residents to stay indoors until the animals have been found.

Some have been recaptured or killed though it is unclear how many are missing. Helicopters are now circling the city as part of a search and rescue operation.

Tbilisi's vice-mayor, Irakly Lekvinadze, estimated the preliminary damage at $10m (£6.43m).

In May 2012, five people were killed in Tbilisi after another river flooded.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:  
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.