In Japan, a bear attacked a firefighter who was looking for a missing woman

In northern Japan, a bear attacked a firefighter searching for a missing woman, whose body was later found with signs of a predator attack. This was reported by NHK World on April 23.

It is noted that police and hunters were combing a mountainous area in the city of Siwa in Iwate Prefecture when they encountered a bear. The 56-year-old officer suffered a scratch on his face and other injuries. The predator was shot on the spot. A few dozen meters away, a woman's body was found — according to the state of the remains, the police assumed that she had been the victim of a bear attack.

A day earlier, another incident occurred in the same area. A local volunteer encountered a bear while searching. The predator resisted, but the man managed to retreat, the beast escaped unharmed.

"When the bear's muzzle came close to his face, he thought he was going to die. He said he was terrified, but desperately resisted and somehow managed to escape, although he does not remember the details," the newspaper reports the victim's words.

The police are continuing to identify the deceased woman. The prefectural authorities urge residents to exercise caution when visiting mountainous areas.

The Japan Today news website reported in November 2025 that the number of victims of bear attacks in Japan has reached a record high in the last five years. 196 people were attacked. Most of the victims of bear attacks were recorded in Akita, Iwate and Fukushima prefectures.