Authorities Launch Hunt For Deadly Vietnamese Crocodiles

November 13, 2007 8:17 a.m. EST

Hanoi, Vietnam (AHN) - Hundreds of crocodiles escaped from a crocodile farm in central Vietnam Tuesday due to heavy flooding. Vietnam government officials and residents launched a hunt for the crocodiles to prevent people from getting hurt.

The provincial military command chief Nguyen Nhu Long said that at least sixty-seven crocodiles have already been captured or died but they were still looking for unknown number of crocodiles that has yet been captured. Villagers in Khanh Hoa province were given warnings about the deadly crocodiles.

Long said, "We have sent in more soldiers to search for the animals because we are worried that they may crawl into people's houses in search of food. They haven't been fed for several days now."

The reptiles escaped when floodwaters swept away the fence of Khanh Viet Farm during weekend, where some 5,000 crocodiles were housed.