Black Bear Injures Four in Rampage Through Japan’s Fukushima City

A black bear injured four people in Fukushima, Japan, on Tuesday after attacking workers at a steel company and later targeting two other residents in the area. Authorities said one victim suffered serious injuries while the others sustained minor wounds. The bear has not yet been captured and is believed to still be inside a nearby company building surrounded by police. The incident comes amid rising bear attacks in Japan, where a record 13 people were killed by bears last year.

A black bear went on a violent rampage in the northeastern Japanese city of Fukushima on Tuesday, injuring four people and triggering a major emergency response by local authorities.
According to officials and local media reports, the attacks began at the Fukushima Steel Works company, where two employees were reportedly bitten by the animal while at work. Emergency services, including police officers and firefighters, were quickly dispatched to the scene after the company alerted authorities that workers had been attacked by a bear.
After the initial attack, the bear reportedly moved into a nearby area and attacked another victim, a man in his 60s working at a separate company. The animal later injured a woman in her 80s who lives in the same neighbourhood, spreading panic among residents and workers in the area.
Authorities said one of the victims sustained serious injuries, while the remaining three suffered minor wounds. All four victims received medical attention as officials launched efforts to track and contain the animal.
As of Tuesday, the bear had not yet been captured and was believed to still be hiding inside the second company where it was last spotted. Police officers equipped with long sticks and other protective gear surrounded the premises while search operations continued. Residents in the area were also urged to remain cautious and avoid unnecessary movement near the affected locations.
The incident has once again highlighted growing concerns over the increasing number of bear encounters in Japan. In recent years, reports of bears entering residential neighbourhoods, schools, farms, and industrial areas have risen sharply, particularly in northern and northeastern parts of the country.
Japan’s Environment Ministry said a record 13 people were killed in bear attacks nationwide last year, marking one of the deadliest years on record for such incidents. Experts have linked the rise in encounters to factors such as shrinking natural habitats, food shortages in mountain areas, climate-related changes, and declining rural populations, which allow wildlife to move closer to urban communities.
The growing threat has prompted calls for stronger government action. Last year, the governor of Akita Prefecture formally requested military support to help local authorities respond to repeated deadly bear attacks and protect residents.
Tuesday’s incident in Fukushima has renewed concerns over public safety as authorities continue efforts to locate and capture the bear before more people are harmed.