The grocery section at Narantuul market, also known as the Black market, caught fire on Friday August 23rd, causing a large amount of damage to over 300 shops.

Ulaanbaatar City Mayor E.Bat-Uul issued an instruction to establish a working group to deal with the current situation.

The working group is headed by the Bayanzurkh District Governor D.Purevdavaa and includes the head of the Metropolitan Police Department, the head of the Traffic Police, 1st and 2nd Division of the District Police Department, the Bayanzurkh District Emergency Management Office and the head of the Bayanzurkh District Specialized Inspection Office. They are working hard to control the situation.

Over these days the Metropolitan Police Department, Bayanzurkh Police Department, Public Discipline Department, Criminal Police Department and State Investigation Department and Forensic Medicine will collaborate to prevent crimes and chaos from breaking out at the site in Narantuul Market.

Police who are working at the scene found 40 thousand US dollars partially destroyed in the fire and 6 million MNT in cash on the first floor of the wreckage. In the basement 395 kg of frozen beef and mutton were also found. It is unknown where the money belongs.

Police are conducting an investigation and questioning testimonies about the fire. The fire brigade received the first call around 6:22am on Friday and the fire crew arrived in 7 minutes, putting out the fire at 11.30 am.

Over 320 staff of the City Emergency Management Office, Fire Brigades 10, 14, 18, 63 and 34 and the City Lifeguard Department worked for 72 hours at the scene without a break. The City Emergency Management Office separated the rest of the market from the damaged grocery section with a water curtain. The neighboring vendors properties and goods in containers were saved by their quick action.

The destroyed grocery section had been in service since 1999. It was found that the building was not up to standards and was not approved by the State Commission.
The rest of the market was re-opened on Sunday to customers.