A passenger train on Japan’s island of Hokkaido derailed after colliding with a bear near the cities of Asahikawa and Wakkanai, according to JR Hokkaido.
No passengers or crew were injured in the incident, which was reported by the railway operator on October 31.
The driver kept passengers on the train overnight from Friday to Saturday due to concerns that the bear might be injured and pose a danger. Passengers were transported by taxi to the nearest station early Saturday morning. Traffic in the emergency area remains suspended, with JR Hokkaido unable to provide an expected timeline for restoration.
The collision occurred amid a rising number of bear incidents across Japan. In fiscal year 2025 (ending March 31, 2026), damage from bear attacks in Hokkaido reached a record 487 million yen ($3 million) — the highest figure since Japanese authorities began tracking such losses in 1991. Crop destruction has increased for three consecutive years as bears target corn and sugar beet fields.
