2015 Tbilisi flood
Deaths | 20 (confirmed) |
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A significant flood occurred in the
Background
The Vere, a
Damage and casualties
After several hours of intense rain on June 13, 2015, a landslide was released above the village of Akhaldaba, which is located about 20 km southwest of Tbilisi. A million m3 of land, mud, and trees were carried by the landslide as it moved into Tbilisi and dammed up the Vere River twice, first at a 10 m wide channel at Tamarashvili Street and then at a channel beneath Heroes's Square, a significant traffic intersection that was connected to Tamarashvili Street by the Vere Valley Highway.[5]
The resulting flood inflicted severe damage on the Tbilisi Zoo, Heroes' Square, Mziuri Park, and nearby streets and houses, resulting in at least 20 deaths, including three zoo workers. One of them, a 56-year-old woman, had recently returned to work after having had an arm amputated two weeks earlier after a tiger mauled it.[1][6] A young rescue officer, Zurab Muzashvili, who died after having rescued seven people, was posthumously awarded the Medal for Civic Devotion.[7]
About 36 people were admitted for mild-to-moderate injuries; most of them were discharged from hospitals on the same day. Of the 24 people reported as missing as of late 14 June,[8] 6 remained unaccountable for on 16 June.[9][10] More than 40 families were left homeless and 22,000 people were left without electricity.[2][11] The Georgian government reported a preliminary estimated flood damage cost from GEL 40 million[12] to 100 million.[13]
Animals in streets
The
Response
Local
Police force, emergency services, and
15 June was declared a
International
The
The Prague Zoo, along with other Czech zoos, dispatched a team of specialists with experience in dealing with floods.[22] The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs also sent an emergency team to assist, led by veterinarians from the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo and the Ramat Gan Safari in Israel.[23] The city of Šiauliai, Lithuania, decided to organize a charity concert to help the families affected by the flood. The Polish businessman Mariusz Artur Napora offered to hold a charity auction in Poland.[24]
Gallery
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Tbilisi Zoo after the flood
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Tbilisi Zoo after the flood
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After the flood
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Inside of Tbilisi Zoo after the flood
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Flood area just west of Tamarashvili Street
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The Trad forest devastated, three years later (picture taken in 2018).
References
- ^ a b North, Andrew (18 June 2015). "Police still searching Tbilisi streets for tiger and hyena after zoo flood". The Guardian.
- ^ a b c d "Tbilisi Flooding Causes Casualties". Civil Georgia. 14 June 2015. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ^ "Georgia flood: Tbilisi residents warned over zoo animals". BBC News. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
- ^ "13 ივნისის წყალდიდობა: ქრონიკა და შედეგები" [13 June flood: timeline and consequences] (in Georgian). Radio Voice of Abkhazia. 14 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ^ "Reconstruction VIDEO: How did small Vere river become a raging force?". Agenda.ge. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ^ a b "Zoo animals loose in streets after flooding hits Georgian capital". The Washington Post. 14 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ^ "Georgia bids farewell to officer who rescued seven before dying in Tbilisi flooding". Agenda.ge. 20 June 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ^ "Photos: Aftermath of Deadly Flood in Tbilisi". Civil Georgia. 14 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ^ "Tbilisi flooding: 14 missing people return home safe". Agenda.ge. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ^ "Tbilisi Flood Death Toll Rises to 19". Civil Georgia. 16 June 2015. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
- ^ "Wild Rains Free Wild Animals in Tbilisi". The Daily Beast. 14 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f "Georgia Declares National Mourning for Tbilisi Flood Victims". Civil Georgia. 14 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ^ "Georgian PM: flood damage exceeds 100m GEL". Agenda.ge. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
- ^ "Wild Animal, on the Loose from Zoo, Kills Man in Tbilisi Center". Civil Georgia. 17 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ "Georgia floods: Escaped tiger kills man". BBC News Online. 17 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ Najibullah, Farangis (17 June 2015). "Penguin From Flooded Tbilisi Zoo Swims To Azerbaijani Border". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ a b "In Flood-Hit Tbilisi, Lions, Tigers and Bears Roam the Streets". NDTV. 14 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Support for Tbilisi Flooding (June 14)". Embassy of the United States to Georgia. 14 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-06-21. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ^ "After Hippo, Lions, Wolves Stalk Flooded Tbilisi, Russia Offers to Assist". The Moscow Times. 14 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ^ "Statement by Spokesperson on the severe floods in Georgia". European External Action Service. 14 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ^ "World leaders offer condolences to Georgia after fatal flood". Agenda.ge. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
- ^ "Georgian capital flood: 12 killed, zoo animals escape, several shot dead". Graphic Online. 14 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ^ "Israeli vets lend hand as half of Georgia zoo's animals die in flood". timesofisrael.com. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
- ^ "PM thanks to foreign counterparts for solidarity". Agenda.ge. 14 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
External links
- Media related to 2015 Tbilisi flood at Wikimedia Commons