A bear injured four people after entering a residential area in Fukushima, Japan, triggering a rapid emergency response and widespread public safety warnings. The animal first attacked two workers at a steel plant before moving into a nearby neighborhood, where it injured two additional residents, including an 80-year-old woman.

Authorities quickly issued shelter-in-place advisories and temporarily closed schools as police and wildlife officials launched a search operation to locate the animal. The incident has heightened concern among residents, particularly given the unpredictable movement of the bear between industrial and residential zones.

According to NHK, bear-related incidents have risen significantly across Japan this year, with at least 23 people injured in nine prefectures. The Ministry of the Environment also confirmed that three fatalities have been recorded, underscoring growing national concern over increasing human-wildlife encounters.