Watch: Bear Assault at Japanese Steel Plant

Authorities responded to an emergency call from Fukushima Steel Works after reports emerged that several employees had been assaulted by a bear, resulting in minor to moderate injuries for four individuals. Police and fire department personnel quickly converged on the Sasakino district’s residential zone to address the situation.

Security video captured the incident, showing a black bear pursuing a worker near the facility's entrance. The animal knocked the employee to the ground before sprinting toward a building. As of Tuesday evening, officials had not yet apprehended the animal, which is believed to be concealed within a structure somewhere on the site.

Japan is home to two bear species: the Asian black bear and the larger brown bear, the latter being native to Hokkaido. This incident occurs against a backdrop of rising dangers, as the number of fatalities caused by bears in Japan hit a record high in 2025.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-03 01:13:45 UTC