A DAM collapsed in north-eastern Nigeria on Tuesday, unleashing severe flooding that prompted evacuations and swept deadly reptiles from a zoo into communities in the area, local officials and a zoo manager said.

The collapse of the Alau dam in the state of Borno caused some of the state’s worst flooding since the same dam collapsed 30 years ago, and prompted many residents to flee their homes. 

The dam was at full capacity due to unusually high rains, according to the state government.