A 17-year-old Indonesian teenager dressed as Superman has become an unlikely face of the country’s fight against wildfires, helping volunteers battle blazes on Borneo island.
Rudiyansah has been spending his free time after school helping his father and a local volunteer firefighting team tackle fires in the peatlands around Palangkaraya.
He has helped fight the fires since 2023, but this year decided to wear his favourite superhero’s red and blue costume while working with a fire hose.
Images and videos of the teenager in his cape against the charred landscape have gone viral, earning millions of views and praise online. Indonesia’s forestry minister has even called him a “forest hero”.
Rudiyansah said wearing the Superman costume was “just for fun”, but added that he was happy to help local residents despite the demanding work.
Indonesia has been facing a major wildfire and haze crisis, with nearly 95,000 hectares of land burned across the country in July alone, according to government data released this week.
The fires have sent thick smoke across parts of Borneo, an island shared by Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.
Rudiyansah’s striking appearance has brought attention to the volunteers working to contain the fires and protect communities from the spreading flames and haze.
Video: AFP