A train traveling in northern Japan’s Hokkaido region was forced to halt for an extended period after colliding with a bear late Friday evening. The limited-service express train, carrying 34 passengers and crew members, was en route from Asahikawa to Wakkanai city when the incident occurred at approximately 10:50 p.m. local time. The collision caused the train to derail, but no injuries were reported among those on board.

Passengers remained on the train overnight and were evacuated from the site the following morning around 9:30 a.m. It is not yet known whether the bear survived the impact. The derailment disrupted travel in the region, illustrating the ongoing challenges posed by increased wildlife interactions in Japan.

Japan has recently faced a rise in dangerous encounters with bears, which have been increasingly entering populated areas such as homes, schools, supermarkets, and hot spring resorts. Experts attribute the surge to a combination of factors, including a growing bear population, changes in natural food availability linked to climate shifts, depopulation in rural regions, and the abandonment of farmland. These dynamics have collectively driven bears closer to human settlements, heightening the risk of conflict.

Last year, bears were responsible for a record 13 fatalities nationwide, with at least five deaths occurring between April and June this year. In response, Tokyo announced in September the resumption of Asian bear hunting after a nearly 20-year hiatus. The renewed culling program permits hunters to eliminate up to 34 bears annually in western Tokyo and along river corridors leading into urban areas. The move aims to reduce bear-human conflicts as these animals increasingly venture into cities and towns.