Terrified Shoppers Scream as Huge Crocodile Is Seen Scurrying Through Grocery Store: Watch

Shoppers at a grocery store in Indonesia got an unexpected scare over the weekend when a crocodile wandered into the cereal and snack aisle.

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

The crocodile was seen moving along the aisles and whipping its tail, while onlookers screamed and shouted from behind the camera, according to a clip shared by news and video agency, ViralPress.

One person attempted to remove the animal using a ladder, but the crocodile remained still, looking up at him with its mouth open.

Firefighters eventually arrived and managed to get the nearly 10-foot-long reptile out of the store, guiding it toward a large puddle.

Members of the team lassoed the crocodile, covered its eyes with a cloth, and tied its mouth shut to safely carry it to a waiting vehicle.

“The evacuation took over an hour,” said local police chief, Senior Assistant Commissioner Adnan Wahyu. He added that the crocodile likely came from a nearby swamp, as recent rainfall had flooded its natural habitat.

“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,” he said, according to ViralPress.

The officer noted that no one was harmed, but he warned locals to remain cautious. “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.

PEOPLE has attempted to contact the Indonesian National Police for additional information but did not immediately receive a response.

This incident follows a tragic event earlier in the week, when a father of four was reportedly killed by a crocodile in front of his family.

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

Arifuddin, 53, was bathing in the river with relatives when the crocodile bit his leg and dragged him underwater. A distressing video captured the crocodile holding onto the man’s legs as villagers rushed into the water to help, while others screamed from the shore.

Emergency responders later located the crocodile in shallow, muddy water, still carrying Arifuddin’s body, the agency reported.

The Associated Press noted in March that crocodile attacks in Indonesia are on the rise. In 2024, there were 179 reported incidents—the highest number globally. Experts attribute this increase to the expansion of palm oil plantations, which create artificial waterways and allow crocodiles to move closer to human settlements.