A vehicle belonging to a Japanese-affiliated company caught fire, causing a grassland fire in eastern Mongolia to spread across a wide area. The fire reached the border area, while allegations of illegal recreational activity in a protected area also emerged, prompting public outrage.
The fire that broke out in the Numrug Nature Reserve in eastern Mongolia spread due to dry weather and strong winds before being extinguished on the 16th. The damage is said to have extended across Mongolia, with approximately 80% of the protected area burned.
The vehicle believed to have caused the fire belonged to Mobicom. Investigators believe dry grass tangled in the muffler beneath the vehicle, which was carrying local staff and a Japanese executive, was the source of the fire.
As the fire spread to the border area, firefighters from China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Mongolia's border guards established emergency firebreaks to prevent it from spreading further.
After the accident, Mobicom's CEO acknowledged in a video message that the fire had been caused by an accidental ignition and apologized. The Mongolian government has classified the fire as a serious environmental crime, launched a joint investigation, and indicated that it intends to seek full compensation for ecosystem restoration and firefighting costs.