ULAN BATOR, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia has been fighting against a steppe fire in two eastern Mongolian provinces, the country's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said on Monday.
More than 250 people including firefighters and local residents joined in the battle, the NEMA said.
The steppe fire broke out on Saturday in the Erdenetsagaan soum (administrative subdivision) of the Sukhbaatar province due to the negligence of citizens, and has spread to the territory of neighboring Dornod province, the NEMA said in a statement.
"It is hard to put out the steppe fire because of the windy and dry weather conditions and dust storms in these provinces. Therefore, additional firefighters, rescuers and helicopters are now being sent to the epicenter of the wildfire," the emergency agency said.
A total of 25 steppe and forest fires have been registered in eight provinces of Mongolia so far this year, it said, urging the public to prevent possible wildfires. ■
