A bear attack in a residential area of ​​Japan: four people were injured

On Tuesday, a bear injured four people in the northeastern Japanese city of Fukushima, marking the latest bear attack in that part of the country, where bears have increasingly entered human habitats in recent years.

Police and firefighters quickly responded to the Sasakino district after receiving an emergency call from the Fukushima Steel Works plant, reporting a bear attack on two workers.

CCTV footage shows a black bear entering the area and chasing an employee at the entrance. When the man, in his 20s, tries to escape, the bear knocks him down. The video then shows the bear entering the plant and injuring a second worker, a man in his 60s.

The bear later attacked a third person, also in his 60s, who worked for another company. A woman in her 80s was also attacked and injured, according to the Fukushima Fire Department.

Three men suffered minor injuries, and a woman sustained moderate injuries, but their injuries are not life-threatening, the fire department said.

By Tuesday afternoon, the bear had not been captured. It is believed to be in the territory of the second company, which has been cordoned off by uniformed police officers armed with long poles.

Two nearby schools were closed. Noda Elementary School moved classes online and posted a warning on its website: "Avoid unnecessary outdoor activities and exercise caution."

The bear attack terrified local residents and reignited the fear that gripped the country last year, when army units were dispatched to the northern prefecture of Akita to combat an increase in bear attacks. Back then, bears attacked more than 60 people, four of whom died.

According to Japan's Ministry of the Environment, 13 people died as a result of more than 230 bear attacks in 2025, the highest number on record.