Mongolia Wildfire Burns 80% of Protected Area, Blamed on Japanese Executives

Flames sweep across parched grasslands, spreading rapidly.

This is the wildfire that broke out in the Numrug Nature Reserve in eastern Mongolia on October 8.

The fire, which lasted for over a week, was extinguished on October 16 after burning approximately 80% of the reserve.

Because the affected area borders China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China deployed 3,400 personnel along an approximately 330-kilometer border zone to expand firebreaks and conduct firefighting operations.

However, the controversy has only grown larger after the fire was extinguished.

It was revealed that the grassland fire originated from a vehicle carrying the Japanese CEO and executives of Mobicom, Mongolia's largest telecommunications company.

According to Mongolian authorities and local media, they were reportedly engaged in illegal hunting and fishing within the protected area.

Mobicom stated that they visited the area to conduct network communication tests and had obtained official permits, but as the controversy grew, they apologized, stating that they take the heavy impact on the natural environment seriously.

Chinese state media harshly criticized Japan.

They pointed out that Mobicom has not issued an official statement regarding the impact the fire had on China.

The state-run English-language newspaper Global Times argued that China bore massive costs, including working day and night for nearly a week to prevent the fire from spreading across the border, and demanded that the Japanese company and individuals involved in the incident apologize to China.

Xinhua News Agency pointed out that this wildfire is extremely serious, having complex and multidimensional impacts on the ecological environment, and stated that various factors must be comprehensively evaluated.

While calls are growing strongly within Mongolia for punishment over the Japanese company's false explanations and environmental destruction, the Mongolian government, which is currently conducting an investigation, stated that it will hold border management officials and Mobicom employees accountable and take measures to seek compensation for the damages.

[Video Editing: Lee Seung-yeol]
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.