Dicing with Death: Java

Kawah Ijeb volcano, the source of life, and often death, on the island.

Porters scale a drop of over 2000 metres to get to the centre of the volcano, where they gather sulphur. They load as much as 80kilos onto their backs before a painful trek back up the volcano. They cover their mouths with scarves to try and protect themselves against the deeply toxic fumes which burn the lungs and eyes. They are paid according to the weight of the sulphur they manage to bring. Two 80 kilo deliveries make for a back breaking 11 hour day and a salary of 8 euros.

We meet the people who live and work from the volcano, who endure such harsh conditions in order to feed their families and send their children to school, so that they might have a better life in the future.

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