A man was critically injured on Tuesday after being attacked by a bear at a steel works in northern Japan, local authorities said. The incident occurred at the Nippon Steel plant in the city of Muroran, Hokkaido, where the bear is believed to have entered the facility from surrounding woodland. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene at approximately 9:30 a.
m. local time (0030 GMT). The victim, a worker in his 50s, suffered severe lacerations to his head and torso.
He was airlifted to a nearby hospital and is in a critical condition. The bear, described by witnesses as an adult male weighing an estimated 150 kilograms, was later shot and killed by local authorities to prevent further attacks. The plant was temporarily evacuated, and operations were suspended for the day.
Japan has seen a rise in human-bear encounters in recent years, with experts attributing the trend to shrinking habitats due to deforestation and an aging rural population. In 2023, the country recorded over 200 bear attacks, a record high. The Hokkaido prefectural government has advised residents in rural areas to remain vigilant, particularly during the autumn months when bears forage for food before hibernation.
This attack underscores the ongoing challenge of balancing industrial operations with wildlife coexistence, a pressing issue as Japan's brown bear population is estimated at 10,000 individuals.
