The town of Onagawa in Miyagi Prefecture posted a photo on the X platform showing a bear walking on a road.

Town officials said the image was provided by a resident on the night of November 25.

In the image, the metal cover of a gutter appears bent.

However, footage of the area taken on the same day shows the cover perfectly straight.

Onagawa town officials said they posted the photo on social media to alert residents, but the resident later admitted that it was a fake image created using generative AI.

In response to the photo alert, a nearby nursery school suspended the use of its yard, while the town hall broadcast warnings through its disaster prevention radio system.

S/ Resident / My house is near the mountains, so I was worried about what to do. Hearing that something like this was fake infuriates me.

Officials of Onagawa said they will verify the authenticity of incoming information and strive to provide accurate updates.