Nearly 100 schools in a Japanese city have been closed after a bear was spotted roaming urban streets for three consecutive days, sparking widespread concern and a major search operation.
Authorities in Utsunomiya, north of Tokyo, ordered the closure of 94 public primary and junior high schools after receiving more than 10 sightings of the animal since Saturday, including reports near a shopping arcade.
Officials said dozens of hunters, police officers and local authorities have been deployed in an extensive effort to track down the wild animal, with patrol vehicles dispatched to alert residents and urge them to stay indoors or remain in their vehicles.
A city official said it is still unclear whether the sightings involve a single bear or multiple animals, adding to the difficulty of the ongoing search operation.
Japan has seen a sharp rise in bear encounters in recent years, particularly in urban areas, with officials reporting increasing cases of animals venturing closer to human settlements.
Data shows 13 people were killed in bear attacks last year, while sightings have surged to more than 50,000 cases annually in the year to March, more than double previous records.
The bear, estimated to be around one metre in length, was first seen on Saturday morning in the northern part of the city and has since been spotted in residential areas, a shopping arcade, parks and near several schools.
Residents also reported another sighting near a wholesale market, heightening fears as authorities continue their search operation.
