A zoo worker has died after a tiger attacked him while he was cleaning the animal’s enclosure, according to officials in Romania.

City authorities announced on social media that the incident occurred early Monday morning in Pitesti, a city located in south-central Romania.

Initial investigations from the police indicated that the 52-year-old victim, who was an employee at Pitesti Zoo, entered the tiger’s cage without following safety protocols and was subsequently attacked, according to the report.

The employee had been with the zoo since 2015, and this was the first fatal incident of its kind in 50 years at the facility.

Officials noted that an internal inquiry is currently in progress.

Mayor: Zoo activities halted following the fatal tiger attack

The mayor of the city, Cristian Gentea, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased in a Facebook post, stating that he has suspended zoo activities while the investigation continues.

Witnesses reported to the Romanian news outlet Evenimentul Zilei that the attack was particularly brutal, and local police have initiated a manslaughter investigation.

Zoo management and staff are said to be profoundly affected by this tragic event, as reported in the release from officials.