Dozens of crocodiles have escaped from a breeding farm in southern China during flooding caused by Typhoon Haikui, Chinese authorities said.
Around 75 crocodiles made a break for it when a lake in Maoming, Guangdong province overflowed.
While some were recaptured, local authorities shot or electrocuted others "for safety reasons".
Chinese state media report that eight reptiles have been rounded-up so far, leaving dozens at large.
Villagers close by have been told to stay at home.
Typhoon Haikui has been tearing across south Asia for more than a week, affecting China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan.
Seven people have been killed and three others are missing in southern China following the typhoon - now downgraded to a tropical storm - which has caused landslides and flooding.
Sixty-nine adults and six juvenile crocodiles escaped following the floods, according to Maoming's Emergency Management Bureau.
No casualties have been reported but officials admitted some of the reptiles are still in deep water. Emergency services have been using sonar equipment to find them.
"It is currently under control, but the number of crocodiles that escaped is a bit high," a staff member at the district's emergency bureau told Dazhong Daily, a state-run newspaper.
Most of the recaptured crocodiles have been shot to death, one firefighter told Chinese media.
They are said to be Siamese crocodiles, the Washington Post reports. These are freshwater reptiles that can grow to around 3m or nearly 10ft long, according to Crocodiles of the World, a UK zoo.
The average weight of the adult crocodiles that have been captured is about 75kg, and they measure more than 2m in length, the firefighter said.
Maoming in Guangdong province is home to a number of crocodile farms. They are bred for their skin as well as for meat.
Latest Stories
-
2024 polls: NDC creating mob mentality across the country, says Richard Ahiagbah
7 mins -
CODEO calls for the sanctioning of individuals arrested for electoral malpractices
27 mins -
Train involved in test run accident will start operations in June – Railways Minister
28 mins -
Boeing may face criminal prosecution over 737 Max crashes, US says
31 mins -
Nigeria suspends cybersecurity levy after public uproar
33 mins -
You can rise to the occasion and make Ghana greater – Nayiri to Bawumia
49 mins -
I was born in a country where people don’t read – Blakk Rasta
57 mins -
Technically there’s nothing wrong with Kodua Fokuo’s appointment, timing is the problem -Agyemang-Duah
1 hour -
Paying to vote is rubbing off the shine of award schemes – Blakk Rasta
1 hour -
Ambulance case: Government failed to cooperate with Big Sea to install supplied accessories – 3rd accused
1 hour -
DBG, Proxtera to make available $100m digital loans to Ghanaian SMEs
1 hour -
Bawumia assures payment of nursing trainee allowance by Thursday
1 hour -
Third African Media Convention opens today
1 hour -
Sierra Leone’s President opens 2024 ECOWAS Court International Conference
1 hour -
Ambulance case: There’s no financial loss to the state – 3rd accused
1 hour