Bear Attacks Spread in Japan: 4 Injured in Fukushima, Body Found in Akita

Bear attacks have been reported in various parts of Japan recently. In Fukushima City, four people were attacked and injured by a bear at a foundry and nearby residential areas on the morning of the 2nd. According to police, the bear first attacked two people at the foundry, then attacked two others in a nearby residential area and an electronics manufacturing facility. Fire and police authorities reported that four people were injured and taken to the hospital; all are conscious. Two nearby schools have temporarily closed. The bear has not been captured, and authorities are maintaining a state of alert, urging residents to stay away from the scene. In Akita City, a family reported that a 73-year-old woman might have been attacked by a bear around 7:20 AM. Police arrived and found the woman's body in the mountains near her home. A bear about 1 meter long was spotted nearby, and Akita police are investigating the possibility of a bear attack. The woman lived alone and was likely weeding when attacked. A sickle and a blood-stained towel were found near her home. A local hunting association killed a bear around 9:40 AM. Takayoshi Yamauchi, an associate professor of wildlife management at Iwate University, stated, 'It is currently the breeding season for bears, and they are more active. They may enter homes looking for shelter, so residents should keep doors and windows locked.'