In a horrifying incident that shook residents of a village in North Kalimantan, Indonesia, a heavily pregnant woman was dragged to her death by a crocodile while she was preparing food in the kitchen of her flooded home.
The victim, 28-year-old Munirah, was eight months pregnant at the time.
The tragic event occurred late Tuesday morning, 27 May 2025, in the village of Labuk Buat, near the Mambulu River in Sembakung Atulai district, Nunukan Regency.
Crocodile Entered Home, Attacked While She Was in the Kitchen
According to local police chief AKP Supriadi and officials from the regional disaster response agency (BPBD), Munirah was in her kitchen around 11 am, Central Indonesian Time (WITA), when the crocodile entered her flooded home and bit into her leg.
Witnesses said she screamed in panic and tried to hold onto a tree branch near the riverbank to resist being dragged away, Tribun News reported.
According to the Daily Mail, after biting Munirah’s leg, the crocodile then tried to thrash her in a death roll.
The Victim Screamed, Her Sister Rushed to Find Help
Her sister, Ana Maria, who was nearby, heard her cries for help.
Munirah reportedly shouted, “Help Ana, there’s a crocodile!”
Ana rushed to find something, a stick or tool, to help pull Munirah out, but by the time she returned, the crocodile had already pulled her sister into the water and disappeared into the muddy depths.
Shocked by the sight, Ana ran to alert her husband and Munirah’s husband about the attack.
Search Efforts and Recovery of the Victim’s Lifeless Body
Residents immediately launched a search effort. For about 30 minutes, they combed the riverbanks, spotting the crocodile briefly surfacing before it dove back under.
Eventually, Munirah’s lifeless body emerged around 34 minutes after the attack.
She was pulled from the water and brought to the Tanjung Harapan Health Centre for treatment, but she had already succumbed to her injuries.
Police reported that her body sustained 35 wounds, particularly on her legs and thighs. Her body was later returned to her family and transported to her hometown in Tanjung Selor for burial.
Flooding May Have Pushed Wildlife Into Residential Areas
According to reports, officials believe the crocodile’s presence so close to homes was due to flooding in the Sembakung area.
Hasanuddin, head of the BPBD rescue division in Nunukan, confirmed the report and said the case would be formally documented in the agency’s daily report.
“The victim could not be saved. She was in the late stages of pregnancy and didn’t have the strength to fight off the predator,” said Supriadi.
Residents Urged to Remain Cautious
Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant, especially when carrying out daily activities near rivers or flood-prone areas.
With flooding still affecting the region, crocodile sightings could become more frequent.
Featured photos courtesy of Viral Press and Tribun News
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