Shoppers Scream as Huge Crocodile Scurries Through Grocery Store: Watch

Shoppers at a grocery store in Indonesia got a shock over the weekend after coming face-to-face with a crocodile that had made its way into the cereal and snack aisle.

On the evening of Sunday, Aug. 17, terrified bystanders filmed the reptile walking around the Fujiyama supermarket in the village of Wayo, North Maluku province.

The crocodile was seen scurrying along and whipping its tail while onlookers screamed and shouted behind the camera, per a clip shared by news and video agency, ViralPress.

One person was seen trying to get the animal out of the store using a ladder, but it failed to move and instead looked up at the man in question with its mouth open.

Firefighters eventually arrived at the scene and got the crocodile outside, as it made its way toward a large puddle.

Members of the team managed to lasso the reptile before throwing a cloth over its eyes and tying its mouth shut, so they could carry it to a waiting vehicle.

“The evacuation took over an hour,” local police chief, Senior Assistant Commissioner Adnan Wahyu, said of the incident, stating that the crocodile was thought to have come from a nearby swamp after recent rainfall likely flooded its natural habitat.

He continued, “The crocodile was secured by three Taliabu firefighters. The fire department team released the crocodile back into the water, which we believe is its home,” per the agency.

The officer said the reptile didn’t attack anybody, but warned locals to take extra care.

“There has been a lot of rain recently, so more crocodiles could come up from the water. Anyone who sees them should call the police,” he said, according to ViralPress.

PEOPLE has attempted to contact the Indonesian National Police for additional information but did not immediately hear back.

The latest incident comes after a father of four was reportedly killed by a crocodile during a horrific scene that took place in front of his family.

The man, identified only as Arifuddin, was swimming in the Bulete River in the South Sulawesi province of Indonesia on Thursday, Aug. 14, around 6 p.m. local time when the tragedy occurred, according to ViralPress.

Arifuddin, 53, was bathing in the river with relatives when the crocodile bit his leg and dragged him under the water, according to ViralPress.

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A distressing video of the incident showed the crocodile grabbing onto the man’s legs as several villagers then moved into the water in an attempt to help, while others screamed from the shore nearby.

Emergency workers were called to the scene, and they later located the crocodile — which was still carrying Arifuddin’s body — in muddy, shallow water, the agency reported.

The Associated Press stated in March that crocodile attacks in Indonesia were increasing. According to the outlet, there were 179 incidents in 2024 — the highest number globally.

Experts attributed the number of attacks to the effects of an increase in palm oil plantations in the region, which have created more man-made waterways and have allowed the creatures to move closer inland.