A grassland fire in eastern Mongolia broke out on 8 October. The burned area reached approximately 530,000 hectares, and although the Japanese government expressed its willingness to cooperate in restoring the affected areas, Prime Minister Takaichi (高市) did not issue an official statement until approximately 3 weeks after the fire began, prompting criticism in Japan and abroad.
A grassland fire that broke out on 8 October in the Numrug Strictly Protected Area in eastern Mongolia continued to spread for more than 1 week, and the fire was confirmed to have been extinguished on 16 October. The burned area covered approximately 530,000 hectares, equivalent to about 2.4 times the area of Tokyo.
It has been alleged that the large-scale fire was caused by employees of Mobicom, including its CEO, driving vehicles in the area, and calls for Japanese companies to be held accountable intensified in Mongolia.
On the 26th, the Japanese government announced, in light of conditions after the fire was extinguished, that it would cooperate in restoring the affected areas, including support involving the dispatch of JICA experts. Meanwhile, criticism that Japan's response to the fire was slow has spread in Japan and abroad.
Responses from the local side and China also began to develop. Approximately 3,400 emergency personnel were deployed by China, and amid heightened tensions in the region, attention focused on an expression of gratitude from the Japanese government and moves by China to provide assistance.
Prime Minister Takaichi (高市) posted an official position on X, but debate is expected to continue over relations between the Mongolian government and Japan and the delayed response.