Flood-hit Tbilisi sees a hippo being pushed on city streets after zoo animals escape

Tbilisi, June 15: Residents of the Georgian capital were asked to stay indoors on Sunday as animals set free from the city zoo following a devastating flood were found roaming around on the streets.

At least 12 people were killed in the floods while 24 were reportedly missing, Tbilisi's civic authorities said. The city's mayor said not all the animals that fled from the zoo were caught and advised people to stay indoors till all of them were caught.

A number of animals were also killed in the flood while infrastructure and property were damaged.

It was although not known how many animals were outside and or the exact number of those that were killed in the floods.

The flood occurred after a stream in downtown Tbilisi became a raging torrent an burst its banks after heavy rain on Saturday night, local media reports said.

Local residents were seen pushing a hippopotamus along a muddy street after it was hit by a tranquilizer dart. A bear was also seen climbing atop an air-conditioning unit. Carcasses were also seen inside the flood-ravaged zoo premises.

A special police team was sent to around the zoo to trace the roaming animals.

Oneindia News