Japanese telecommunications company KDDI Corp denied allegations that its employees violated laws or regulations in connection with a wildfire that broke out in the Mongolian steppes earlier this month. The company issued the statement on Friday following speculation on social media regarding the circumstances of its staff’s presence in the area.

The incident involved seven employees of Mobicom Corp, a subsidiary of KDDI, including one Japanese national. According to KDDI, the group’s visit to the Numrug nature reserve in eastern Mongolia took place from October 6 to 8 and was conducted with permission from local authorities. The purpose of the visit was to attend an opening ceremony for a new telecommunications network installed by Mobicom and to perform quality checks on the infrastructure.

KDDI emphasized that the employees were engaged in legitimate work-related activities during their stay and rejected suggestions that their visit was for recreational purposes. The company did not provide further details about the cause of the wildfire or whether the firm had initiated any response measures or investigations.

Local Mongolian officials have not issued an official statement attributing responsibility for the wildfire or commenting on the role of the visiting employees. The wildfire’s occurrence has raised concerns about environmental impacts in the region, which includes sensitive ecosystems within the Numrug nature reserve.

The situation remains under review, with KDDI maintaining its position that its employees acted within the scope of their official duties and complied with all relevant laws and regulations during the course of the visit.