In the city of Jharia and surroundings, an underground fire has been burning since 1916 - or even longer according to the locals. The fire probably started when abandon coalmines was not properly closed. The fire evolved in to more than 70 underground fires. The inhabitants use the fire to warm themselves on cold winter nights, to dry clothes and sometimes even cook food. Photo: Johnny Haglund
In Jharia, India, the underground coal has been burning for more than 80 years – some say more than 100 years – and it is still burning. Actually, it has never been worse than now. The earth is literary on fire. Whole mountains are burning, houses disappear and people are dying. Thousands of people are living on land that is in danger of collapsing due to the fire. The fumes from the fires are also a huge health hazard to the inhabitants. Many people work in and around the big coal mines and collect coal illegally. Every year some of them die, but they are afraid to report this to the police. Since what they are doing is not allowed they risk being arrested when talking to the police. Photo: Johnny Haglund
In Jharia, India, the underground coal has been burning for more than 80 years – some say more than 100 years – and it is still burning. Actually, it has never been worse than now. The earth is literary on fire. Whole mountains are burning, houses disappear and people are dying. Thousands of people are living on land that is in danger of collapsing due to the fire. The fumes from the fires are also a huge health hazard to the inhabitants. Many people work in and around the big coal mines and collect coal illegally. Every year some of them die, but they are afraid to report this to the police. Since what they are doing is not allowed they risk being arrested when talking to the police. Photo: Johnny Haglund
In Jharia, India, the underground coal has been burning for more than 80 years – some say more than 100 years – and it is still burning. Actually, it has never been worse than now. The earth is literary on fire. Whole mountains are burning, houses disappear and people are dying. Thousands of people are living on land that is in danger of collapsing due to the fire. The fumes from the fires are also a huge health hazard to the inhabitants. Many people work in and around the big coal mines and collect coal illegally. Every year some of them die, but they are afraid to report this to the police. Since what they are doing is not allowed they risk being arrested when talking to the police. Photo: Johnny Haglund
In the city of Jharia and surroundings, an underground fire has been burning since 1916 - or even longer according to the locals. The fire probably started when abandon coalmines was not properly closed. The fire evolved in to more than 70 underground fires. The inhabitants use the fire to warm themselves on cold winter nights, to dry clothes and sometimes even cook food. Photo: Johnny Haglund
In Jharia, India, the underground coal has been burning for more than 80 years – some say more than 100 years – and it is still burning. Actually, it has never been worse than now. The earth is literary on fire. Whole mountains are burning, houses disappear and people are dying. Thousands of people are living on land that is in danger of collapsing due to the fire. The fumes from the fires are also a huge health hazard to the inhabitants. Many people work in and around the big coal mines and collect coal illegally. Every year some of them die, but they are afraid to report this to the police. Since what they are doing is not allowed they risk being arrested when talking to the police. Photo: Johnny Haglund
In Jharia, India, the underground coal has been burning for more than 80 years – some say more than 100 years – and it is still burning. Actually, it has never been worse than now. The earth is literary on fire. Whole mountains are burning, houses disappear and people are dying. Thousands of people are living on land that is in danger of collapsing due to the fire. The fumes from the fires are also a huge health hazard to the inhabitants. Many people work in and around the big coal mines and collect coal illegally. Every year some of them die, but they are afraid to report this to the police. Since what they are doing is not allowed they risk being arrested when talking to the police. Photo: Johnny Haglund
In Jharia, India, the underground coal has been burning for more than 80 years – some say more than 100 years – and it is still burning. Actually, it has never been worse than now. The earth is literary on fire. Whole mountains are burning, houses disappear and people are dying. Thousands of people are living on land that is in danger of collapsing due to the fire. The fumes from the fires are also a huge health hazard to the inhabitants. In the winter many people use the open fire to warm themselves. Photo: Johnny Haglund
In the city of Jharia and surroundings, an underground fire has been burning since 1916 - or even longer according to the locals. The fire probably started when abandon coalmines was not properly closed. The fire evolved in to more than 70 underground fires. The inhabitants use the fire to warm themselves on cold winter nights, to dry clothes and sometimes even cook food. Photo: Johnny Haglund
In Jharia, India, the underground coal has been burning for more than 80 years – some say more than 100 years – and it is still burning. Actually, it has never been worse than now. The earth is literary on fire. Whole mountains are burning, houses disappear and people are dying. Thousands of people are living on land that is in danger of collapsing due to the fire. The fumes from the fires are also a huge health hazard to the inhabitants. Here a guard in a coalmine lights up a cigarette, while his surroundings are covered in fumes from burning coal. Photo: Johnny Haglund
