Georgia Flood Causes Zoo Animals To Escape

Bears, lions, wolves, hippos, tigers and hyenas are now on the loose after a heavy rainfall caused the Verve River to overflow, sweeping away zoo animals in Tbilisi City, Georgia.

The Guardian reports that in a devastating flood that killed 12 people and left a number of people missing, police officials and citizens are in search for other animals that are left roaming around the city on Sunday.

"It's an unbelievable tragedy," Gurielidze told the news agency about the disastrous flood that killed three of the zoo's staff. Two of them were 56-year-old Guliko Chitadze, who lost one arm after she was bitten by a tiger last month, and her husband. The couple was still residing at the zoo grounds at the time of the flood.

Some wild animals that were found were shot dead after chasing residents, including one hyena which was swept away near Tbilisi State University. The said animal reportedly ran after school staff, who was luckily rescued after locking himself away from it.

The director of the zoo, Zura Gurielidze asked people to refrain from shooting the animals as the staff is trying to save an unknown number of them.

No reports of further deaths caused by wild animals have been released.

Among the zoo's tragic loss was Shumba, a rare white lion, which was one of the favorite attractions at the animal park.

Pictures of animals that broke out of their cages due to the killer disaster are flooding the internet, including a small bear stranded at a second-floor house window and a hippopotamus walking around the city's main squares. The hippo was shot by a tranquilizer gun to avoid further destruction.

The Tbilisi Ministry of Internal Affairs urges people to stay indoors for the situation is "under full control."

The damaging disaster consisted by a series of landslides and floods submerging the city roads, has swept away not only animals, but many vehicles as well.