A large grassland fire that broke out after 8 October in the Numrug Nature Reserve in eastern Mongolia burned approximately 529,000 hectares, equivalent to about 2.4 times the area of Tokyo. Reports indicate that the fire was caused when Japanese executives and others from Mobicom, a Japanese-affiliated company, entered the area by car and ignited dry grass.
A grassland fire broke out after 8 October in the Numrug Nature Reserve in Dornod Province, eastern Mongolia, and was reportedly extinguished by the morning of 16 October. Approximately 529,000 hectares burned, representing about 79.8% of the entire reserve. The first report was reportedly made at 11:55, or 0:55 Japan time.
Mongolian media reported that the fire was caused when Japanese executives and others from Mobicom entered the nature reserve by car and ignited dry grass while driving. Mobicom is a consolidated subsidiary of KDDI, and related information has been reported regarding the relevant executive contact, the company’s ownership structure and the appointment of its CEO.
The Mongolian government has indicated a policy of holding all parties involved responsible for the fire, but the results of the police investigation have not been released. China reportedly conducted firefighting operations near the border and also took measures to protect and rescue local wildlife.