Ulaanbaatar, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- According to a report by the General Directorate of Emergency Situations of Mongolia on the 16th, extremely cold and snowstorms have caused the death of more than 610,000 livestock in Mongolia, and this number continues to increase.
According to incomplete statistics from relevant departments of Mongolia, as of the 16th, 611924 livestock in the country have died due to extreme cold and snowstorms, and the eastern provinces of Kent, Sukhbaatar, Eastern Province, East Gobi Province and Houhangai Province in the central and western regions have suffered serious disasters.
It has also been reported that at least 1350,000 herders were trapped in pastoral areas and could not go out, 3840,000 kilometers of roads were closed due to heavy snowfall.
Since the beginning of winter, Mongolia's 21 provinces and the capital city of Ulaanbaatar have continued to suffer from extreme cold and snowstorms, and more than 80% of the country's land is still covered by heavy snow, with snow thickness reaching 100 cm in many places.
Mongolia was put on high alert for disaster preparedness on the 14th. Mongolian Prime Minister Oyun Erden instructed the relevant authorities to take all necessary measures to provide assistance to herders in the affected areas and minimize the loss of animal husbandry.
According to the data provided by the Mongolian Hydrometeorological Department, the whole territory of Mongolia ushered in a wide range of cooling from the late night of the 15th, accompanied by strong winds and snowstorms in some areas.
Mongolia is one of the countries in the world that still retains its nomadic tradition, and animal husbandry is an important pillar industry. According to data released by the National Statistics Committee of Mongolia, at the end of 2023, the country's livestock herd was 64.7 million heads. (ENDS).