ULAN BATOR, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The number of structure fires reported in Mongolia so far this year has dropped by 7.2 percent year on year, the country's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said Thursday.
But the amount of economic losses caused by the fires was increased by 64.5 percent compared to the same period last year.
From Jan. 1 to Aug. 23, a total of 2,520 structure fires were reported across the country, the NEMA said, adding that the fires caused losses of 13.4 billion Mongolian tugriks (5.4 million U.S. dollars).
A total of 49 people and 289 livestock animals were killed and 1,157 homes and buildings were destroyed in the fires, according to the NEMA.
Also, 27 people were injured due to the fires.
Mongolian firefighters have saved the lives of 613 people and properties worth 30.3 billion Mongolian tugriks (12.2 million U.S. dollars) from the fires since the beginning of this year.