Wolves, bears, tigers, lions and a hippo have all been set loose from a major city zoo in a freak flood that also killed seven people.
Terrified residents have been warned to stay in doors by frantic authorities in Tbilisi, Geoorgia, after the flood sent dozens of dangerous animals roaming the streets last night.
Among the dead people are said to be three zookeepers.
One of those who died was Guliko Chitadze, a zookeeper who according to reports in Georgia lost his arm in a separate attack by a lion last month.
The Zoo Administration said six lions, six tigers, seven bears, one hippo and 13 wolves escaped the zoo.
Amazing photos showing a hippopotamus wandering along major roadways have been shared across social networks.
The massive animal was seen trotting down a dual carriage way and then stopping to eat from a tree in the city centre.
Tbilisi flood: Live updates as zoo animals wreak havoc after escaping during freak flood
Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, was battered by flooding last night that also hit the city’s zoo.
Animals were all set free in the ensuing chaos and while some of them have already been re-captured or killed more were still on the loose, local news agency Civil.gesaid.
The hippo was captured and tranquilised but officers are still out searching for other potentially deadly beasts.
Heavy rain started in the city just after midnight last night causing a small waterway to burst its banks and sent water flooding through the city.
Reports suggest a number of wolves that escaped were later shot dead by rescue teams hunting them.
Subsequent photos showed a number of apparently dead wolves lying in the back of a lorry.
According to local reports, the animals were killed when they strayed close to a children’s hospital.
A major highway was also covered with water – sweeping cars and one building away.
Two of the victims of the flood are said to have been swept away by the water.
It is not thought any of the rest who died were killed by any of the animals.
Soldiers have also been mobilised by the government to help with efforts to get the situation under control.
Mayor David Narmaniya told reporters that the operation to secure the area was still ongoing Sunday morning.
He said: “The first stage of the rescue effort is almost over, but we are still looking for several people.”
A total of 40 families are thought to have been made homeless by the flood, which swept buildings away.
Which animals have escaped from the zoo?
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said: “Nothing like this has ever happened in Tbilisi before.”
The damage is estimated to be a cost of around $10million (£6.4million).
Flooding began after torrential rains battered Tbilisi Saturday night into Sunday morning.
The city lies on a river valley and the zoo, which was almost completely destroyed, sits on the banks of the Kura River.
When the river overflowed, water flooded into the zoo smashing down pens ans cages.
Tbilisi flood: 'Seven people dead' and zoo animals on loose in city after freak storm
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