Shoppers at a Fujiyama supermarket on Taliabu Island, Indonesia, faced pure panic on Sunday night, August 17, when a massive crocodile wandered straight into the store, sending crowds fleeing and sparking a frantic rescue operation.

Videos captured the terrifying moment the 10-foot-long reptile whipped its powerful tail and scurried through the aisles, knocking over items and leaving customers screaming. “I thought I was going to die,” one shopper told local reporters. “It was right there in front of me, and all I could do was run.”

Witnesses say the crocodile slithered in from a nearby swamp after heavy rainfall flooded its habitat. “We suddenly heard people shouting, and then we saw it,” recalled store employee Siti Mahmud. “It was huge, with its mouth wide open. Everyone just scattered.”

In one viral video, a man can be seen nervously attempting to guide the crocodile out with a ladder, only for the reptile to snap its jaws in response.

Firefighters and police rushed to the scene, eventually managing to lasso the reptile after more than an hour of chaos. “The evacuation took over an hour,” said Senior Assistant Commissioner Adnan Wahyu, the local police chief. “Three firefighters secured the animal, tied its mouth shut, and released it back into the swamp where it belongs.”

Officials have now warned residents to stay alert. “Because of recent floods, crocodiles are moving closer to populated areas,” Wahyu explained. “If you see one, call the authorities immediately. Do not approach it.”

The incident highlights a growing problem in Indonesia, where crocodile encounters are on the rise. Just days earlier, a 53-year-old father of four, identified as Arifuddin, was killed in front of his family when a crocodile dragged him underwater while he bathed in the Bulete River.

According to the Associated Press, Indonesia recorded 179 crocodile attacks in 2024 — the highest number in the world. Experts say deforestation and palm oil plantations are forcing the reptiles out of their natural habitats and closer to humans.

“People need to understand we’re entering their territory without realizing it,” said environmental researcher Dimas Prakoso. “Until we address habitat loss, these encounters will only get worse.”

The supermarket video has exploded online, with millions watching the harrowing footage. “This is like something out of a movie,” one social media user wrote. Another commented, “Imagine just trying to buy cereal and running into THAT.”

Authorities now fear similar incidents could become more frequent as the region experiences heavier rainfall and ongoing habitat disruptions.