Wildfires destroy 889,993 hectares of land in Mongolia so far this year-Xinhua

Wildfires destroy 889,993 hectares of land in Mongolia so far this year

Source: Xinhua| 2022-05-03 16:52:00|Editor: huaxia

ULAN BATOR, May 3 (Xinhua) -- A total of 49 forest and steppe fires have been reported across Mongolia so far this year, which have destroyed 889,993 hectares of forest and grassland, the country's National Emergency Management Agency said Tuesday.

The number of registered wildfires is up 31.4 percent compared with the same period last year, and the significant increase is mainly related to dry weather conditions and people's negligence, the emergency agency said.

As of Tuesday, Mongolian firefighters have been battling to extinguish a wildfire which broke out in the northern province of Bulgan on Monday afternoon, it added.

The emergency agency is warning the public not to make open fires or throw cigarette butts on the ground amid current dry conditions.

Mongolia's weather is usually dry and windy during the spring season.

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