KDDI admits staff activity of Mongolian unit Mobicom linked to nature reserve fire
In short
Japanese telecom operator KDDI said on 20 October that a large grassland fire in a Mongolian nature reserve was linked to the activity of an executive of its subsidiary Mobicom. Mongolia's environment ministry gave a preliminary burned area of about 530,000 hectares, including about 470,000 hectares inside the reserve. Mongolian officials say the cause is under investigation.
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Japanese telecom operator KDDI (凯迪迪爱) said on 20 October that a large grassland fire this month in a Mongolian nature reserve was linked to the activity of an executive at its subsidiary Mobicom (莫比康), Xinhua reported on 21 October. Xinhua cited Japan's Kyodo news agency, which used KDDI as its source. [ 1 ]
The fire broke out on 8 October in the Numrug (努姆鲁格) Nature Reserve in Mongolia's Eastern Province (东方省). According to Mongolian media cited by Xinhua, a Mobicom group of more than 10 people in 5 vehicles entered the reserve, including Japanese executives, and the vehicles ignited dry grass while driving. The open flames were put out on 16 October. [ 1 , 3 ]
KDDI said, in a statement quoted by Xinhua and China News Service, that it takes "extremely seriously" the fact that Mobicom's activities caused a fire with a major effect on the natural environment. It said the staff entered the reserve to carry out 4G network communication tests, and that Mongolian authorities are investigating the cause. [ 1 , 4 ]
Mongolia's Ministry of Environment and Climate Change published preliminary figures on 20 October. They put the burned area at about 530,000 hectares, with about 470,000 hectares of the reserve affected, or 79.8% of its total area. Xinhua described the reserve as an important ecological zone in eastern Mongolia for preserving natural landscape, regional ecological balance and biodiversity. [ 1 , 4 ]
Accounts differ on permission and purpose. Xinhua says Mobicom's statement said staff obtained formal permission from Mongolian border guard authorities before entering the reserve. China News Service attributes the permit claim to KDDI's statement. Xinhua says multiple Mongolian media reported that the group planned to hunt or fish for an endangered fish species. China News Service says reports suggest the group may have had that plan, and that Mongolian media questioned whether the convoy had authorities' permission to enter a strictly restricted area. [ 1 , 4 ]
China News Service, citing the Japan Times, said the companies face criticism and questions. It reported that Mongolian officials said the investigation is continuing and that those responsible for the fire would be asked to pay compensation. KDDI said it will keep supporting Mobicom's cooperation with the authorities and will review its field-test procedures and safety management system. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The fire hit a reserve that Xinhua describes as an important ecological zone in eastern Mongolia, and a company has now acknowledged a link to it. Mongolian officials quoted by China News Service say those responsible will be asked to pay compensation, and KDDI says it will review its field-test procedures.
Key facts
- A large grassland fire broke out on 8 October in the Numrug (努姆鲁格) Nature Reserve in Mongolia's Eastern Province (东方省); the open flames were put out on 16 October. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- KDDI (凯迪迪爱) said on 20 October that the fire was linked to the activity of an executive at its subsidiary Mobicom (莫比康). [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- According to Mongolian media cited by Xinhua, a Mobicom group of more than 10 people in 5 vehicles entered the reserve, including Japanese executives, and the vehicles ignited dry grass while driving. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Mongolia's Ministry of Environment and Climate Change gave preliminary figures on 20 October: about 530,000 hectares burned, including about 470,000 hectares of the reserve, or 79.8% of its total area. [ 1 , 4 ]
- KDDI said its subsidiary's staff entered the reserve to carry out 4G network communication tests. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Mongolian officials say the investigation continues and those responsible will be asked to pay compensation, according to the Japan Times as cited by China News Service. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- KDDI admitted on 20 October that the fire in the Mongolian nature reserve was linked to the activity of an executive at its subsidiary Mobicom. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The fire began on 8 October in the Numrug Nature Reserve, and Mongolia's environment ministry gave a preliminary burned area of about 530,000 hectares, with about 470,000 hectares (79.8%) of the reserve affected. [ 1 , 4 ]
- KDDI said its subsidiary's staff entered the reserve to run 4G network tests. [ 1 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Why the Mobicom group entered the reserve. KDDI says 4G network tests; Xinhua cites multiple Mongolian media reporting a plan to hunt or fish for an endangered fish species, and China News Service says only that this may have been the plan.
- Whether the group had permission to enter the reserve. Xinhua says Mobicom's statement claims an official permit from Mongolian border guard authorities; China News Service attributes this to KDDI's statement. Mongolian media questioned whether the convoy had permission to enter a strictly restricted area.
- The cause of the fire. Mongolian authorities are still investigating; the vehicles igniting dry grass is a report from Mongolian media cited by Xinhua.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On 21 October, Xinhua reported that KDDI had admitted on 20 October a link between the fire and its subsidiary's executive. [ 1 ]
- Xinhua published a second item on 21 October with the headline that the company admitted its subsidiary executive's activity caused the fire. [ 2 ]
- Jiemian published a summary of the Xinhua report on 21 October. [ 3 ]
- On 22 October, China News Service reported on criticism and questions facing the companies involved, citing foreign media reports of 21 October. [ 4 ]