On the morning of the 1st, an elderly woman was found collapsed with head injuries in the urban area of Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, and later died at the hospital where she was taken. The city and police are calling on residents to be careful, considering that they may have been attacked by a bear based on the condition of the wound.
At around 1:6 a.m. on the 1st, a nearby resident found an elderly woman lying in a parking lot in Asahimachi, Aizuwakamatsu City, and reported to the fire department that there was a person who was bleeding and had fallen.
According to police, the woman was taken to hospital in an unconscious condition, but was pronounced dead about an hour later.
According to the city and police, the woman has large wounds on her head and face as if she was scratched by something, so it is possible that she was attacked by a bear based on the condition of the wounds.
So far, there have been no bear sightings in the vicinity.
The site is a residential and retail district in the center of Aizuwakamatsu City, and is a little more than 1 km away from JR Aizuwakamatsu Station and Tsuruga Castle, which is visited by many tourists.
The city and police are urging residents to be careful.
According to Fukushima Prefecture and the Fukushima Prefectural Police Headquarters, there were 4 cases of injuries caused by bear attacks in the prefecture between April and the end of last month, the highest number since statistics began to be collected in Heisei 13.
In July last year, an elderly woman was attacked and killed by a bear on the outskirts of Aizuwakamatsu City.
The prefecture is calling for caution such as carrying items that make noise and acting in multiple groups to inform bears of their presence.
If you encounter a bear, it is important to quietly step back and leave the place so as not to provoke it, and if the bear attacks, it is important to protect your head and neck with your luggage or arms, and lie face down on the ground to protect your belly.