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Silent Heroes

by Francesco Soave (Italy)

Indonesia

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East Java, Indonesia. In the volcanic crater of Kawah Ijen, filled with a turquoise, extremely acid lake, miners carry inhuman loads of sulfur on their shoulders, from the bottom to the peak.
East Java, Indonesia. In the volcanic crater of Kawah Ijen, filled with a turquoise, extremely acid lake, miners carry inhuman loads of sulfur on their shoulders, from the bottom to the peak.
The miners trek to the crater at night. It takes them over an hour to reach the summit of the volcano, then another hour to descend inside the crater, where they mine sulfur.
The miners trek to the crater at night. It takes them over an hour to reach the summit of the volcano, then another hour to descend inside the crater, where they mine sulfur.
Near the crater lake, sulfuric gas is channeled into ceramic pipes where it condenses. Liquid sulfur drips and solidifies, quickly changing color from dark orange to pale yellow. Miners break up their own blocks of solid sulfur and load them in their wicker basket. Ready to carry it all the way up.
Near the crater lake, sulfuric gas is channeled into ceramic pipes where it condenses. Liquid sulfur drips and solidifies, quickly changing color from dark orange to pale yellow. Miners break up their own blocks of solid sulfur and load them in their wicker basket. Ready to carry it all the way up.
Silent hero. Walking in slow motion, shifting the heavy load from one shoulder to the other at every step. Always looking down, focused on the next step. Toxic fumes only increase the torture, but instead of wearing a gas mask, most of them breathe through the mouth biting a wet rag.
Silent hero. Walking in slow motion, shifting the heavy load from one shoulder to the other at every step. Always looking down, focused on the next step. Toxic fumes only increase the torture, but instead of wearing a gas mask, most of them breathe through the mouth biting a wet rag.
The peak of Kawah Ijen. This is where the miners’ sufferance ends – temporarily –. From here, the loads of sulfur are carried down the slope on two wheels hand carts. The miners do the exhausting trip twice per day, for a ridiculous amount of money.
The peak of Kawah Ijen. This is where the miners’ sufferance ends – temporarily –. From here, the loads of sulfur are carried down the slope on two wheels hand carts. The miners do the exhausting trip twice per day, for a ridiculous amount of money.

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