Fukushima bear that injured four people remains at large

An adult bear attacked four workers at two factories in Fukushima, northern Japan, before seeking shelter inside one of the buildings. Officials say the animal escaped by unlocking a window from the inside and even turned on a water tap to drink, leading local mayor Yuki Baba to describe it as “extremely intelligent.”

Police, hunters, firefighters and drone teams continued a coordinated search on Friday, but the bear was still missing. The incident comes amid a surge in bear sightings nationwide – over 50,000 reported in the last fiscal year, double the previous record – and a record 13 human deaths from bear attacks in Japan last year, trends linked by experts to climate‑driven changes in food availability.

Authorities are reviewing security measures at industrial sites in bear‑prone regions, while schools in the area temporarily closed and reopened with heightened precautions.