At least five people died and several are missing as a result of heavy rainfall and floods overnight in the Georgian capital Tbilisi, Georgian news agencies reported.

Heavy rainfall turned the Vere river flowing through Tbilisi into a torrent that swept away dozens of buildings and cars.

Animals from the city's zoo including tigers, lions, bears and wolves escaped from cages damaged by the rainfall. Some were captured or killed while the search for others goes on.

Vice mayor of Tbilisi Irakly Lekvinadze said that a preliminary estimate put damages at $10 million and that "dozens of families" are homeless as their houses were destroyed or damaged.

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