Image reproduced from 中時新聞網

Recently, a unique and alarming incident occurred in Japan's Tohoku region, where a bear was struck by a train on the elevated tracks of the Tohoku Shinkansen, resulting in a service disruption of nearly 40 minutes. This event raises questions about how the bear ended up on the elevated railway.

In this incident, the E5 series train 'Hayabusa-Komachi 25' operated by JR East was traveling on the afternoon of the 28th around 4:02 PM when the driver spotted a bear on the tracks in the town of Ōsaki, Miyagi Prefecture. Despite the driver immediately applying the emergency brakes, it was too late to avoid a collision, and the train struck the bear, producing a loud noise.

A subsequent inspection revealed the bear's carcass nearby. Notably, the collision occurred on an elevated section of track, leading experts to question how the bear made its way into this area. As a result, train services in both directions between Sendai Station and Morioka Station were suspended for a total of 37 minutes, affecting five Shinkansen services and approximately 2,300 passengers.

Many passengers expressed concern during this incident; however, an NHK employee who boarded the next Shinkansen reported that multiple announcements were made inside the train explaining, "Due to a train collision with a bear, a safety check is underway." Once the situation was confirmed to be safe, passengers visibly relaxed and appeared relieved.

This incident has not only sparked discussions online but has also prompted a reevaluation of safety at the intersection of wildlife and human infrastructure. Bears typically inhabit forests and mountainous areas, and the design of elevated railways makes the occurrence of wildlife entering such spaces very rare. The incident highlights the delicate balance between humans and nature.

The Tohoku Shinkansen is one of Japan's vital transportation arteries, carrying a significant number of passengers and goods daily, serving not only as a fast corridor connecting cities but also as a key option for tourism. As urbanization progresses, encounters between wild animals and urban areas are becoming increasingly frequent, prompting serious contemplation on how to better balance urban development and ecological preservation.

Moreover, additional reports related to this incident have emerged: in other news, demonstrations in Bangkok, Thailand, have recently taken place, with opposition parties demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, reflecting shifts in political dynamics across nations. Additionally, four giant pandas in Wakayama have successfully embarked on their return to China, attracting considerable attention from visitors. These events are also prominent topics in current international news.