Indonesia teen with ‘Superman’ cape fights haze fires, minister hails ‘forest hero’
Dressed as his favourite superhero, Indonesian teenager Rudiyansah walks along a charred landscape, helping douse wildfires that have razed large parts of Borneo island. The Southeast Asian country has been battling infernos that have left a thick, blanketing smog over parts of the island that Indonesia shares with Malaysia and Brunei. Rudiyansah’s red and blue Superman costume stood out against…
Indonesian teenager Rudiyansah, known for dressing like Superman, has been battling forest fires on Borneo island. The Southeast Asian country has been grappling with devastating infernos that have cloaked parts of the island in dense smog. Rudiyansah, 17, has been a volunteer firefighter since 2023, joining his father's team after school.
This year, he donned his red and blue superhero costume, creating a striking image that has garnered millions of views and earned him the title of "forest hero" from the country's forestry minister. "Honestly, I'm really happy because I can help locals, even though it feels really tiring," Rudiyansah said. Despite the challenges, including the worst haze season in recent years, Rudiyansah remains determined.
"To volunteers and firefighters across Indonesia, keep up the spirit in the fight against the flames," he urged.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
