Society

Rampaging bear shot dead after four hurt in Japan chaos

Jun 19 (yahoo.com) - A bear has been shot dead after it went on the rampage and broke into an army base, according to Japan’s national broadcaster.

Several flights had to be cancelled at a regional airport in the northern part of the country.

The bear was first seen at about 3.30am on Friday, when it made it past the gates of the army base next to Okadama airport in Sapporo. It injured at least four people, including one soldier.

The airport was forced to cancel at least eight flights, broadcaster NHK reported. It said that 10 schools in the vicinity were also forced to shut down.

Katsunobu Kato, a government spokesperson, said Hokkaido prefecture, where Sapporo is the capital, had been put on alert. He added: “A total of four people, including one self-defence forces member, have been attacked and injured by the brown bear.”

Several officials, police, a local hunting association and helicopters were called out, Mr Kato had said, indicating that if necessary the brown bear might be killed.

Television stations reported that hunters from the local association shot the animal at around 11am.

Source: Kyodo

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