Japanese netizens criticize government’s belated response to Mongolian grassland fire

A massive grassland fire in eastern Mongolia has sparked criticism of the Japanese government over its delayed response and raised questions about corporate responsibility. The fire began on October 8 in the strictly protected Numrug reserve and burned about 530,000 hectares before being extinguished on October 16. Initial investigations suggest it may have been linked to a vehicle convoy operated by Mobicom, a Mongolian subsidiary of Japanese telecom company KDDI. KDDI acknowledged on October 20 that the fire was connected to Mobicom’s activities.
Japan’s government addressed the incident publicly for the first time on Monday, prompting criticism from Japanese social media users who called for a faster response and a thorough investigation. Mongolia’s Prime Minister Nyam-Osor Uchral said authorities must establish who authorized entry into the protected area and determine responsibility for the damage. Mongolian officials have also pledged to seek accountability and compensation for the destruction of grassland, wildlife habitats and other natural resources.

Source: CGTN