A hippopotamus walks across a flooded street in Tbilisi on June 14, 2015. Tigers, lions, jaguars, bears and wolves escaped on June 14 from flooded zoo enclosures in the Georgian capital Tbilisi, the mayor's office said. (AFP/Beso Gulashvili)
TBILISI, June 14 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed and several went missing as a result of flooding in the Georgian capital city of Tbilisi overnight on Sunday.
Overflown Vere river in Tbilisi swept cars, houses, and flooded the Tbilisi zoo at midnight due to heavy rainfall.
At least five people died in the flood, Tbilisi mayor Davit Narmania said early Sunday morning.
A hippopotamus walks along a flooded street in Tbilisi on June 14, 2015. (AFP/Beso Gulashvili)
Officials warned people to stay at home as animals such as tigers, lions, bears and wolves escaped from the flooded zoo and some of them remain at large until Sunday morning.
Mindia Janelidze, secretary of the State Security and Crisis Management Council, called on the people to refrain from driving on Sunday as several central thoroughfares will remain closed due to the flooding.
Local residents push a hippopotamus along a flooded street in Tbilisi on June 14, 2015. (AFP/Beso Gulashvili)
