Tbilisi flood: 12 people killed, 16 missing: National day of mourning declared in Georgia
Heavy flooding in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, has killed at least 12 people, with officials warning people to stay indoors to avoid animals that have escaped from a zoo. Tigers, lions, wolves and bears are feared to be still on the loose in Tbilisi amid chaotic scenes brought by Saturday night’s flash flood. A hippopotamus was cornered in one of the city's main squares and subdued with a tranquiliser gun. Tbilisi Zoo spokeswoman Mzia Sharashidze said three bodies had been found in the zoo, including those of two employees. Water filled subways, basements and first floors of hundreds of homes. Dozens of people have been left homeless. A day of mourning has been announced for Monday. A bear was found clinging to an air-conditioning unit half way up one building, while a man discovered a hyena on his balcony. 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. Rescue workers are searching submerged homes to check for trapped residents. Sixteen people are reported missing. President Giorgi Margvelashvili has visited affected area and extended his condolences to relatives of the victims. It remains unclear how many are animals missing. Helicopters are circling the city as part of a search and rescue operation.
