Yesterday, a combined blizzard and dust storm hit most provinces of Mongolia, namely, Arkhangai, Gobisumber, Darkhan-Uul, Dornod, Dornogobi, Dundgobi, Zavkhan, Orkhon, Uvurkhangai, Umnugobi, Khuvsgul, Khentii, Tuv and the capital Ulaanbaatar. Over 30 herders in various provinces were lost in the bizzard; four of them are still missing. According to the Mongolian National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), a 19 year-old herder in Bayankhongor, a 40 year-old man in Dundgobi and two herders in their mid 30’s from Gobisumber have been reported missing after they did not return home.

Fortunately, 28 adults and six children have been saved by NEMA officers in Uvurkhangai province.