Rescuers are searching for a climber in his 20s who is missing after an apparent brown bear attack near Mount Rausu in Japan’s northern prefecture of Hokkaido.
Police and local hunters resumed their efforts at about 5:30 a.m. on Friday. The operation was triggered by an emergency call from a climber at around 11:10 a.m. on Thursday, saying his climbing partner had been attacked by a bear and dragged away.
Police say the man was apparently attacked about 20 minutes before the call by the friend who was rescued. He was quoted as saying that he heard his companion calling his name about 200 meters ahead while they were descending the trail. He then saw him trying to fight off a bear. The rescued man added that despite his own efforts to drive it away, the bear dragged his friend off into the woods.
Mount Rausu in Shari Town on the Shiretoko Peninsula in eastern Hokkaido, is a known habitat for brown bears. Rescuers airlifted about 70 climbers who had taken shelter at an observation deck or other locations on the mountain on Thursday. Police are checking for any other people left in the area, based on reports that some climbers had been seen near the summit.
AloJapan.com