rki.news | Source: Xinhua
ULAN BATOR, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) – A massive wildfire in Mongolia’s Numrug Strictly Protected Area has sparked criticism over a Japanese-linked company’s response and environmental damage.
The fire began on Oct. 8 in Dornod Province, burning about 530,000 hectares, including 470,000 hectares within the protected reserve, according to Mongolia’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. It was extinguished on Oct. 16 after eight days of firefighting.
China deployed more than 3,400 emergency personnel along the Inner Mongolia section of the China-Mongolia border for fire-prevention patrols as flames approached the frontier.
Japan’s KDDI, an investor in Mongolian telecom company Mobicom, apologized for the environmental impact. It acknowledged that Mobicom executives were inside the reserve when the fire occurred but said it would await Mongolia’s official investigation findings.
Mobicom said its convoy entered the protected area for 4G network testing after prior notification. Mongolian officials have questioned this claim.
Social media users in Mongolia and Japan demanded accountability, legal action and environmental restoration. Some also criticized the delayed public response.
Mongolian authorities are investigating the incident and pledged to assess ecological damage, determine responsibility and seek compensation. Japan’s Embassy in Mongolia said it was monitoring the incident and would urge Mobicom to implement remediation measures.
Mongolian Wildfire Sparks Criticism Over Corporate Accountability
