Black Desert

Description

Following Iraq’s retreat from Kuwait in February 1991, departing forces ignited over 600 oil wells, creating one of the 20th century’s worst environmental disasters. This rare documentary project captures the international firefighting effort to extinguish the blazing wells.

As the only film crew granted full access to the burning fields, photographer and BBC Education filmmaker [Name] documented the hazardous operation alongside international firefighting teams, including the legendary Texan crew Boots & Coots. Working under extreme conditions—intense heat, toxic gases, unexploded ordnance, and lakes of burning oil—the team used 4×4 vehicles and protective equipment while navigating cleared paths through minefields.

The photographs capture the surreal, apocalyptic landscape of blackened sand, abandoned military wreckage, and towering flames, as well as the dangerous work of controlling oil blowouts using water cooling and controlled explosions to disrupt the fire triangle.

Content Warning: Contains disturbing images related to environmental disaster and conflict aftermath.