TOKYO, June 26 (Xinhua) -- A bear was spotted twice on Thursday at Yamagata Airport in northeastern Japan, prompting the closure of its runway and flight cancellations, local media reported.
An employee at the airport in Higashine, Yamagata Prefecture, first spotted the black bear, which was about 1.2 meters tall, near the runway at around 7 a.m. local time, forcing its closure for about 30 minutes, Kyodo News reported.
The initial sighting led to delays of up to an hour for four scheduled flights, the report said.
The runway was reopened but closed again at 11:55 a.m. local time, shortly after the animal was spotted a second time on the premises, including the runway itself, with the second closure leading to 12 flight cancellations.
There were no reports of injuries, with the bear still at large somewhere in the facility, the report said.
The prefectural police and local hunting associations are considering capturing the animal, while urging residents in the area to be careful. ■
