A bear that attacked four people in an industrial area in Fukushima, Japan managed to escape from an electronics factory after allegedly opening a window on its own, according to local authorities.
The bear escaped from a factory PHOTO: X
Authorities were preparing to take emergency measures, including authorizing the use of firearms to neutralize the animal, which had become extremely dangerous.
According to information provided by city officials, the bear left the factory between Wednesday and Thursday night. A policeman in the area noticed the animal around 10:50 p.m., when it was seen jumping over a security fence, writes japantoday.
Investigators later found clues inside the Oki Sympho-Tech Co factory, where a protective net on a window had been torn and the closing mechanism appeared to have been tampered with. These elements led to the hypothesis that the bear was able to open the window by itself, operating the latch and pushing it.
Fukushima City Mayor Yuki Baba described the animal’s behavior as unusually intelligent, noting at a news conference that the bear was even seen drinking water from a faucet using its front paws.
“We saw the bear putting its paws on a faucet and drinking water. We think it’s extremely intelligent,” declared the mayor.
According to the cited publication, the authorities had previously installed four cage traps in the perimeter of the factory and authorized the use of a tranquilizer gun, given the presence of flammable materials in the area.
However, the tranquilization attempt was unsuccessfulbeing later confirmed that the substance had not been administered correctly.
“It’s not that we neglected the intervention, but we are left with a feeling of regret,” mayor Yuki Baba also specified.
In parallel, a drone search operation was launched, while several schools in the area temporarily switched to online classes as a precaution. Students are due to return to regular classes starting Friday.
The bear initially entered the premises of Fukushima Steel Works Co in the Sasakino area on Tuesday morning at around 06:30. The animal attacked two employees, then injured a person in a nearby home and another victim at the Oki Sympho-Tech Co. factory.
In total, four people, men and women between the ages of 20 and 80, were injured. Injuries include facial bone fractures, but doctors say none of the victims are in serious or life-threatening condition.
Authorities continue to monitor the area, and the public is advised to exercise caution increased in the context where the animal has not yet been caught.
