Indonesia is currently grappling with its most severe wildfires in over ten years, exacerbated by the climatic pattern known as El Niño. These fires are largely attributed to intentional land clearing for agricultural purposes, notably palm oil plantations.
The consequences of these fires extend beyond environmental damage, as over 12,000 schools throughout the nation have been forced to shut down due to the pervasive toxic haze. This has severely disrupted education and daily life for countless communities.
Amid these challenging circumstances, Nathaniel Undas, a school principal and photographer, has taken to social media to document the ongoing fires. His efforts provide an unfiltered view of the crisis and bring attention to the severe impact on local communities and the country’s education system.