A series of terrifying bear attacks in Japan has left one person dead and four others injured, as growing numbers of wild bears continue to venture into populated areas and residential neighbourhoods.
The latest incidents unfolded on Tuesday morning in Fukushima and Akita prefectures, sparking fresh concerns about public safety and prompting school closures.
In Fukushima City, a bear went on a violent rampage through a factory complex and nearby residential district, injuring four people before disappearing.
According to reports, the first attack occurred at around 6.30am at a foundry in the Sasakino area, where workers alerted authorities after a colleague was mauled by a bear inside the factory grounds.
Police said the animal initially attacked two employees before wandering into a nearby residential area and an electronics manufacturing company, where it injured two more victims.
All four victims were rushed to hospital and were conscious when admitted for treatment.
Dramatic CCTV footage from the factory captured the horrifying attack on a worker in his twenties. The video showed the employee approaching an exit when a bear suddenly charged at him.
The terrified worker attempted to flee, but the bear relentlessly pursued him around the premises before leaping onto his back and grabbing his waist.
The impact sent the victim crashing to the ground, leaving him with serious injuries to his side.
Moments later, the animal attacked another worker in his sixties, causing severe injuries to his back.
The bear also smashed through a glass automatic door at the factory entrance, highlighting the force and aggression of the attack.
Authorities believe the animal may still be hiding within the grounds of a nearby electronics company and have warned residents to stay away from the area.
As a precaution, a nearby primary school and junior high school suspended classes to protect students.
Officials noted that multiple bear sightings had already been reported in the area over the past week.
Meanwhile, a separate suspected bear attack in Akita Prefecture turned deadly.
At around 7.20am, police received reports that a 73-year-old woman living alone in the Kawabe Wada district may have been attacked while cutting grass in a mountainous area near her home.
Rescue teams later discovered her body in woodland close to her residence.
Investigators found a sickle and a bloodstained towel near the scene, while witnesses reported spotting a bear measuring approximately one metre in length nearby shortly after the incident.
Local hunters launched an immediate search and successfully shot a bear later that morning, although authorities have yet to confirm whether it was responsible for the fatal attack.
The tragedy has alarmed residents, particularly as the incident occurred just 100 metres from a local primary school.
According to data from Japan’s Environment Ministry, at least eight people were injured in bear attacks nationwide between January and April this year.
Wildlife experts say the current breeding season has led to increased bear activity, with animals travelling further from their natural habitats and increasingly entering urban and residential areas.
Professor Takayoshi Yamauchi, a wildlife management specialist from Iwate University, warned that bears are now being sighted even in major cities and may attempt to enter homes while searching for shelter.
He urged residents to keep doors and windows securely locked and remain vigilant as bear encounters continue to rise across the country.
The latest attacks have intensified fears that human-wildlife conflicts are becoming an increasingly serious issue in Japan.
