'Keep up the spirit': Indonesian teenage 'Superman' joins wildfire fight

A 17-year-old Indonesian teenager, dressed in a Superman costume, has emerged as an unexpected symbol in the country's ongoing battle against wildfires on the island of Borneo. Rudiyansah has been voluntarily assisting his father and a team of local volunteer firefighters in combating blazes in the peatlands surrounding the city of Palangkaraya.

This young hero has been lending a hand since 2023, but this year, he decided to don his favorite superhero's red and blue suit while tackling the infernos with a fire hose. His striking image against the backdrop of charred landscapes has gone viral on social media, garnering millions of views and widespread praise. The Indonesian forestry minister has even hailed him as a "forest hero".

Rudiyansah admitted that he wears the Superman costume purely for enjoyment, but he expressed his satisfaction in aiding local residents despite the physically taxing nature of the work. Indonesia is currently grappling with a severe wildfire and haze crisis, with an alarming 95,000 hectares of land scorched in July alone, according to government reports released this week.

The flames have unleashed thick smoke across various parts of Borneo, a shared island between Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Rudiyansah's distinctive appearance has not only spotlighted the volunteers striving to curb the fires and safeguard neighborhoods from the expanding flames and haze, but it has also galvanized public support for their cause.