Japanese telecom subsidiary faces criticism and legal consequences after executives’ activities sparked a Mongolia wildfire that destroyed 80% of a nature reserve

A subsidiary of a Japanese telecommunications firm is facing criticism and legal consequences after its executives’ activities sparked a major wildfire in Mongolia near the Chinese border.

The fire burned for more than eight days, covering approximately 530,000 hectares—an area more than twice the size of Tokyo—and destroying about 80% of a protected nature reserve. Some wild animals, including rare and endangered species, fled across the border into China. Chinese firefighters working to contain the blaze left a passage open for the animals to escape.