All language subtitles for Volcanic.Odysseys.Series.2.3of5.A.Place.Like.Hell.1080p.HDTV.x264.AAC.MVGroup.org.eng

NARRATOR:
Journey to one of the most
extreme places on Earth.

TOM:
The whole wall over here
seems to be on fire,

blue fire.

It is a truly
hellish place.

NARRATOR:
Where miners brave
a toxic environment

to carry out their
back-breaking work.

ANDI:
It's about 68 kilograms.

NARRATOR:
Then it's on
to Hell's island...

[Explosion]

NARRATOR:
Home to one of the
most active volcanoes

on the planet...

[Explosion]

NARRATOR:
...where it rains
fire at night,

in nature's greatest
spectacle.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

NARRATOR:
Indonesia is one of the most
volcanically active

countries in the world.

Its more than 17,000
islands are largely

the result of volcanos.

NARRATOR:
The most populated island
is Java,

which has 45
active volcanoes.

At the very edge of Java
you'll find Ijen Caldera,

an ancient volcano that erupted
violently 50,000 years ago...

creating a massive crater
the size of New York city.

Since then, many new
volcanos have formed

around this crater.

Ijen is an area
of contrasts.

The nutrient volcanic soils
make it one of the best

growing areas
in Indonesia.

NARRATOR:
Rice and coffee plantations
have made this region wealthy

by Indonesian standards.

It's a stark contrast to
the volcanic landscapes

just above the town.

NARRATOR:
Volcanologist and
photographer Tom Pfeiffer

has been to Ijen
many times before,

but he is back with
fellow guide Andi Rosanto

because of a recent discovery
that is exciting

the volcano world.

Ijen produces an extremely
rare phenomenon

called blue fire.

But it's only been
discovered recently.

That's because it happens
at the bottom of the crater,

which is one of the
most inhospitable

and toxic places
on Earth.

Visitors had been restricted
to daylight hours,

and the blue fire can
only be seen at night.

NARRATOR:
Tom is back to photograph
them for a new book

he is putting together on the
world's active volcanoes.

TOM:
It's a major tourist
attraction...

both for its beautiful lake,
the scenery,

but mainly for the occurrence
of these huge sulfur deposits

and the human activity
that's going on there,

the mining.

All this makes you maybe
even forget it is actually

one of the most
dangerous volcanoes.

NARRATOR:
This is because Ijen erupts
every 10-20 years,

and it can produce
phreatic eruptions

where water comes into
contact with magma

and flashes to steam,
causing a major explosion.

These eruptions can occur
without any warning.

The dangers are an
occupational hazard

for a volcanologist.

The crater is a 30-minute
drive outside of town,

a modest hour and half
to the crater rim.

NARRATOR:
The hike starts out
fairly easy,

but as you climb higher,
you're quickly reminded

by the changes
in the landscape

and strong odor
of rotten eggs

that this is
an active volcano.

The crater rim is a charred
and desolate landscape,

reminiscent of a
primordial world.

At the bottom of this crater
is Kiawah Ijen,

a turquoise acid lake:
beautiful, but deadly.

TOM:
There you can see the plumes
coming up from there.

There is an area of
extremely active fumaroles,

small fractures in the rock
where sulfur gasses come out.

NARRATOR:
The blue flames can
be seen at night

at the base of these jets.

The gas is an eerie reminder
that fresh magma

lies just below
the crater floor.

sulfur is one of the most
abundant trace elements

in magma.

As magma rises from
inside the earth,

sulfur dioxide and other gases
are released.

Because they are lighter
and under intense pressure,

they work their way up
through cracks and weakness

in the ground.

TOM:
Ijen produces a lot
of sulfur.

It ranks probably in
the top five volcanoes

when it comes to
sulfur output.

NARRATOR:
Why this happens is still
a mystery to scientists.

TOM:
You see, each volcano
is so different

from another volcano.

It's as if they have their
own personalities,

something which
makes volcanology

so extremely interesting.

You can't always compare
one volcano to another.

Each is completely
different.

NARRATOR:
One of the pluses of a volcano
that produces this much sulfur

is that it can be mined.

Liquid sulfur flows out of
the base of these jets.

Sulfur mining is a decades
old tradition here.

And for these miners,
little has changed.

The work is
physically demanding

and every hour they spend
in the crater

shortens their life.

There are about two hundred
miners working here

in 'round the clock' shifts.

Despite the dangerous gases,
most of them can't afford

protective gas masks
or gloves.

The miners pay dearly
for working in these

toxic conditions.

They all have health issues
from breathing this toxic air.

Few live beyond
60 years of age.

The miners make
two trips a day

carrying their weight
in sulfur.

Once they've filled
their buckets

with the hardened sulfur,

the miners make their way
up the treacherous paths

to the rim,

and then down to
a weigh station.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

NARRATOR:
Many miners develop
spinal problems

and separated shoulders
that end their careers.

These men represent what is
likely the last generation

of miners who will
work at Ijen.

Their children have
more opportunities

than their fathers,

and are moving
to the big cities.

ANDI:
It's about 68 kilograms.

They can carry like
60 to 75 kilograms,

and this is the first time
they have to put it in

the weigh stations
to get a coupon.

So, after they get the coupon
they can keep the coupon

to get some money
to change to the factory.

It's like, uh,
yeah, nine dollars.

NARRATOR:
From here the sulfur
goes to be refined.

TOM:
So this is the first
processing facility

for the sulfur that was
extracted from Ijen crater,

where the raw sulfur blocks
are being melted.

Once it's boiling
it's still full of sand

and other particles
that are not useful.

He scoops it out
and passes it through

at first a very rough
filter.

The liquid runs down to over
there where a second person

uses paper filters to
extract coarser sand.

NARRATOR:
The sulfur mined
here has many uses:

in medicines for people
living with HIV,

to diet supplements
for vegans.

Sulfur is the third most
abundant mineral

in our body by weight,

and the sixth most abundant
macro mineral in breast milk.

It's used widely in the
manufacturing of plastics.

It also is a key ingredient
the vulcanization of rubber,

a process developed
by Charles Goodyear

that uses sulfur
to make tires more durable.

The demand for sulfur
from places like Ijen

is decreasing.

This element is a by-product
of oil and gas

refining process,
which is much cheaper.

But, as the chapter closes
on the mining industry

here at Ijen,
a new chapter is opening,

driven by blue fire.

Many former miners have now
turned to guiding tourists

to the blue flames

because to get a permit to
make the nighttime descent,

you need a local guide.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

TOM:
This whole wall seems
to be, like, on blue fire.

It is a truly
hellish place.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

If we go there to take
pictures from close

we definitely need
gas masks.

There's no way you can
breathe this without one.

Even here we
have to be careful.

If the wind turns
we have to put them on.

Fortunately it seems the wind
is relatively stable tonight

and all goes this way,
so we're good here.

It's an absolutely
amazing sight.

I've never seen
anything like this.

NARRATOR:
The blue flames
occur naturally.

Because of the extreme heat,
the pure sulfur ignites

as soon as it is
exposed to air.

TOM:
You can't see the flames
in daylight.

I guess they're there,

but you need the darkness
to make them visible.

In daylight they're
just too faint,

you don't notice them.

NARRATOR:
Tom wants to see
where the liquid sulfur

is pouring out.

The sulfur gases burn blue,
giving it the appearance

of flowing blue lava.

But the noxious cloud
is giving him trouble.

TOM:
Sorry, it's very difficult
to be here

without the gas mask,
so excuse me

if I have to put it on
from time to time.

Yes, we're in the middle
of the fumes.

Without the gas mask
it would be hell.

I'm really glad
this works.

I don't know how long,
but for now it's okay.

The winds will turn again.

Okay, the wind--
Maybe not.

It hasn't turned.

NARRATOR:
Because of the wind,
Tom isn't able

to get down to see where
the liquid sulfur

is flowing out.

He'll have to try
another time.

Even in the dark,
their work goes on.

Since the discovery
of the blue flames,

increasing numbers
of visitors

are coming to the crater.

ANDI:
Yeah, so now we can see
the miners are working

collecting sulfur,
and in extreme conditions.

But now at least
they have gas masks

and then, you know,
it's better conditions,

but still it's kind of
an extreme job, I think.

NARRATOR:
How long these blue flames
will continue to draw in

adventurous tourists
is unknown.

It's almost certain this
volcano will erupt again.

When it does, nature will
take back the sulfur banks,

and with it
its blue flames.

But for now, Tom has
his visual record

of this special event
in nature

and the people who braved
these dangerous conditions

to eke out an existence
so they can feed their families.

Each and every volcano is
unique to photograph.

Tom's favorite eruptions
are Strombolian.

These are small in scale
and occur at regular intervals.

They shoot glowing rocks
everywhere

and make for
dramatic photos.

Raung volcano
next to Ijen

is known for Strombolian
eruptions

of varying intensities.

But unfortunately
the volcano's crater

is almost inaccessible.

The active vent is on the top
of a high mountain,

inside a deep crater.

Andi volunteers to go up
on his own

to assess its potential
for Tom.

[Distant explosions]

[Distant explosions]

Small Strombolian eruptions
are occurring

out of several vents.

[Explosion]

[Explosion]

During the day, these eruptions
look benign in nature.

But as the sun sets,
they come alive.

[Explosions]

[Explosions]

[Explosions]

[Explosions]

ANDI:
Yes...

[Rumbling]

[Rumbling]

♪♪♪

[Explosion]

ANDI:
So down there
there is eruptions

and explosion bursts.

And I'm now on the rim
of the crater,

and there is inflation
of the lava dome there

with continual Strombolian
eruptions.

You gotta see this.

It's very, uh, difficult
to be here.

But it's worth it.
It's amazing.

Spectacular eruptions
all the time.

Rumbling, and then
very loudly.

You can see that.

[Explosion]

ANDI:
So again!

NARRATOR:
On a volcano like this
you quickly begin

to notice patterns,
allowing so it's possible

to anticipate
the next eruption.

ANDI:
It's going to peak,
I think.

Yes.

[Loud explosion]

NARRATOR:
The eruptions are spectacular
and constant.

But there's no way of getting
close enough to the crater.

Andi has another volcano
in mind for Tom

to get his shots of
a Strombolian eruption.

It too is difficult
to access,

but it's known to produce
some powerful explosions.

Batu Tara is a small volcano
on the island of Komba,

three hours out to sea
off the Island of Flores.

Its name means
'burning stone.'

It's an hour-long
flight away,

passing over some of Indonesia's
most famous volcanoes.

Below is Tambora, responsible
for the largest eruption

in historic times,

much bigger than the volcano
that wiped out Pompeii.

The volcano erupted in 1815,

killing more than
70,000 people,

and led to a
volcanic winter.

Decreased global temperatures
led to widespread crop failure

in the northern hemisphere.

It caused the worst famine
in the 19th century.

Tom is with his
small group

of experienced
volcano photographers.

They've arrived in Larantuka,
a fishing village

on the eastern edge
of Flores Island,

their starting point
for Batu Tara.

[Indistinct conversation]

NARRATOR:
There are no planes
or scheduled boats

to this uninhabited island.

The plan is to camp
for several days

on a small bit of rock beach
directly adjacent

to the active crater.

That is, if it's
not too dangerous.

They've negotiated a lift
from local fishermen.

ANDI:
So this is our boat, yeah?

So you can photograph or,
you know, documentation

for ten minutes
around the activity of the...

It is fishing helper.
[Inaudible]

TOM:
Yeah, that's our boat.

It's quite spacious.

This is one of the typical
traditional boats

that go out for
several days in a row

and go especially for
tuna fishing

out in the seas
of the Flores Sea.

They bring us to Batu Tara.

They'll be around
the island;

hopefully won't disappear
when they see tuna swarms,

but come regularly,
pass by,

hopefully maybe give us
some fresh fish.

NARRATOR:
To Andi's knowledge
only two groups

have stayed on
Batu Tara,

and both groups
faced difficult seas,

and their camps
were pounded by waves.

Today the seas are calm
except for the strong currents

that flow between the islands
as water passes

from Flores Sea into
the Indian Ocean.

TOM:
Look at the wild water
here.

The water is absolutely calm,
there is no wind,

but the currents create
such turbulence

that it's definitely not a place
you want to go swimming.

NARRATOR:
The trip to Batu Tara
is lined with volcanoes.

And they are evidence of
how Indonesia was formed,

and why its volcanoes
are so active.

The Earth's crust is divided up
into massive plates,

that move at the rate
that fingernails grow.

When two plates collide,
the denser slab sinks down

into the mantle below.

This takes place in a
subduction zone.

Oceanic plates are generally
older, colder and denser,

and covered with
layers of sediment

that accumulated
on the sea floor.

Water sucked down
in the subduction zone

boils back to the surface
and helps to melt

the overlying rock.

The resulting magma then
rises to the surface

in volcanic eruptions.

Underneath Indonesia,
the Indo-Australian plate

is subducting under
the Eurasian plate

at a very steep angle.

The result is a country-wide
chain of volcanos.

The process takes
millions of years,

and Indonesia's many
active volcanoes

are proof it is happening
right now.

Back on the boat, Tom, Andi,
and their group

have had calm seas
and a relaxed trip.

The group of five
photographers have travelled

with Tom on several
of his expeditions before.

The rest of the passengers
are boat crew

and three hired hands
to run the camp.

Their plan is to set up
a camp on the island

and spend four or five days
observing the volcano.

And Tom is hoping to get the
perfect shot for his book.

But nothing is certain.

They won't know whether
they'll be able to land

until they get there.

ANDI:
So now we are preparing
the boat to get to land.

So this is the only way for us
to land at Batu Tara.

NARRATOR:
Batu Tara is an
extremely active volcano

that produces Strombolian
type eruptions.

These can throw boulders
called bombs

more than
20 football fields.

Their camp is going to be
less then half that distance

from the crater.

TOM:
The initial blast was,
in this case,

was a stronger one.

You could see pieces of lava
being ejected,

landing on the upper
part of the slope,

probably on the walls
and tumbling down.

It's beautiful.

Now you understand
why it's called

"the slide of fire."

Well, you'll understand it
even better at night

when these bombs we see now
flying are glowing,

which is a fantastic sight.

[Distant explosion]

NARRATOR:
Today the eruptions
aren't throwing bombs

in the direction of
the campsite.

So for now it's safe to
unload their equipment

and set up camp.

TOM:
We've arrived at
our landing beach.

We'll build up camp
right here.

It's just enough space
for a kitchen,

a tarp and mattresses
for everybody.

The big advantage of course
is we have a full view

of the erupting crater.

And you see it's
very, very busy.

Since we've arrived
half an hour ago

it has at least done
five or six explosions.

I'm really looking forward
to seeing this at night,

especially it should be
fantastic firework.

NARRATOR:
The crew on the boat
won't stay.

They will head out
to fish overnight

and return each morning
to check on the camp

and make sure
that all is okay.

For these fishermen
the expedition here

is a good opportunity
to supplement their pay.

It will be another
month or so

until the tuna season
starts.

First order of business is
to get the camp sorted.

Meals need to be cooked
and cameras set up.

They've brought enough
supplies for a week.

The weather this time of
year in Indonesia is hot,

so they've opted for
traditional ways

to keep food fresh.

The chickens don't seem
to mind the explosions.

As the eruptions continue
they change in intensity,

to gauge their safety,
Tom scours the beach

looking for evidence
of bombs.

These are rocks
that are thrown out

during volcanic eruptions.

They range in size,
from pebbles

to boulders
the size of a mini bus.

TOM:
Look where we are now.

On the beach 50 meters
behind our campsite,

but look what
we found here.

A shattered but very fresh bomb
that was ejected here,

and I wouldn't have wanted
to be here when this landed.

There's no way you could
survive an impact like this.

Or maybe if you were lucky
and it just rips an arm off,

but probably it would
just smash you in two.

When this impacts typically
you have pieces flying off

in all directions, so also
you could easily be killed

or seriously hurt by any
fragment that splintered.

It just breaks off
at impact.

[Explosion]

NARRATOR:
A more powerful eruption
sends bombs high up

into the air.

They are high enough to
clear the old crater rim,

landing about half the
distance between the group

and the crater,
a comfortable margin.

[Crackling sounds]

[Crackling sounds]

[Crackling sounds]

TOM:
Bombs, or in this case,
volcanic bombs,

are larger pieces of lava
that are being ejected

by explosive activity.

Per definition, anything
whose diameter is larger

than 64 millimeters,
that means about like this,

would be classified as bombs,

whereas anything below that
but larger than

two millimeters across
is called lapillis.

Visually the most interesting,

the most beautiful to see
are the bombs.

They form glowing balls
that travel through the air

follow parabolas,
and reach various distances,

impact on the cliffs
on the slope.

With large explosions they
can even reach the seashore.

With exceptionally
large explosions

they might even reach
this area,

so we are not out of the reach
of potential bombs.

But it seems that
the very big explosions

that propel bombs up to our
position are extremely rare.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

NARRATOR:
But even before
the sun sets,

the incandescence of
the molten rocks appear.

It's an exciting precursor
for what is about to come.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

[Explosion]

[Rumbling]

[Rumbling]

NARRATOR:
The first eruption
is a big one.

It showers the entire upper
region of the volcano

in incandescent
glowing material.

[Explosion]

[Rumbling and hissing]

[Rumbling and hissing]

[Rumbling and hissing]

[Rumbling and hissing]

[Rumbling and hissing]

[Crashing]

NARRATOR:
Lightning flashes
as the ash column

generates a massive charge
of static electricity.

TOM:
We've just seen two
very, very large explosions.

The last one was probably
the biggest one

I've seen so far
on this volcano.

An ensemble of blocks
of all sizes are ejected,

which typically lands
on the upper parts

near the crater
on the slope,

and then start
tumbling down.

And one by one they add up,
building this scree slope

called a sciara.

Sciara comes from the island
of Stromboli,

which is similar in activity.

It has a similar depression
which is called

the "Sciara del fuoco,"
the "Slide of Fire,"

translated from Italian.

[Explosion]

[Crackling]

[Crackling]

[Crackling]

[Crackling]

[Crackling]

[Crackling]

[Explosion]

NARRATOR:
After several
powerful eruptions,

things quiet down
for the rest of the night.

Even Tom is caught off guard
by the size of the eruption.

The bombs literally
appear to be flung

as high as the
Empire State Building.

TOM:
A second after the explosion,
a huge detonation reached us.

The eruption triggered
a small earthquake

and some rocks fell here
from the cliff.

It was very, very impressive,
if not even a bit scary.

If explosions become
much bigger than that,

we should be thinking about
evacuating the place.

NARRATOR:
Fortunately the volcano
remains quiet

for the rest of the night.

Which is a good thing.

it's hard to sleep
on a tiny island

that explodes
every 15 minutes.

Out at sea, it's a good day
for the fishermen.

They've come across
a school of tuna.

[Indistinct voices]

[Indistinct voices]

NARRATOR:
The boat returns, unaware
of the eventful night.

Before too long,
nature's alarm clock goes off,

Batu Tara style.

[Explosion]

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

[Rumbling]

NARRATOR:
The group sets up
sunshades.

It's going to be
a hot day.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

[Explosions]

NARRATOR:
But then Batu Tara
erupts big.

[Explosions]

As rocks begin to
roll down the slope

and crash into the water,
the captain decides

it's time to pull anchor
and get out of there.

The real danger
with these volcanoes

is that a slight increase
by 10% could mean

the difference between rocks
hitting the slope

and those hitting the beach
or landing in the water.

The boat retreats further
down the beach to set up

and catch fish
for the day's meals.

The daytime eruptions appears
less frightening,

so the routine continues.

[Explosion]

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

[Explosion]

NARRATOR:
The frequency of eruptions
provides the chance

to see in detail
what's going on

during the
Strombolian eruptions.

Deep inside the volcano,
magma is rising

through a conduit
at a slow rate.

Gases that are dissolved
in the magma begin to escape

and form bubbles as they
near the surface.

Unlike Ijen, where
they constantly vent

reducing pressure,
here the gasses are trapped.

TOM:
Above the magma cone
there is a thin crust

which maintains.

So under this plug,
gas bubbles continue to form,

to expand, and to become
more and more pressurized

until the pressure of the gases
in the upper part

of the conduit,
in the magma column,

is large enough
to eject the plug.

NARRATOR:
A split-second later...

[Explosion]

NARRATOR:
...the lava plug gives.

A small jet of ash
shoots out,

followed by a sudden release
of pressure.

Gas which was in a liquid state
because of the pressure

suddenly expands to
1,200 times its volume,

just like a shaken champagne
bottle that pops its cork.

This instantly fragments
the remaining cap.

The rock is pulverized
into tephra,

which is small pieces of rock,
mixed with fine grain ash.

[Explosion]

After the initial eruption,
the conduit becomes open.

More jets of ash and lava
are blasted out.

[Explosions]

[Explosions]

[Explosions]

[Explosions]

[Explosions]

NARRATOR:
Contrary to
popular belief,

volcanoes do not emit
columns of smoke.

This material is made up
entirely of rock and gas

mixed with some steam from
vaporized ground water.

[Explosion]

NARRATOR:
The material falls
back into the crater,

plugging it again,
and the process starts over.

Because Strombolian eruptions
don't damage the magma conduit

inside the volcano,
these eruptions can continue

for decades, sometimes even
for thousands of years.

[Explosion]

[Explosion]

TOM:
This plug is not
very, very strong,

so it doesn't take
a lot of time

for new gas bubbles
to form

and become strong enough
to destroy the new plug.

NARRATOR:
After a day of nearly
constant eruptions,

the group does not know
what to expect for the night.

Tom's experience with
Strombolian eruptions

tells him it can go
either way.

Volcanoes often enter
into quiet periods

after an intensive phase

while they recharge
their magma supply.

The problem here is Tom
doesn't know how long

this volcano's cycles last.

It should make for an
interesting evening.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

[Explosion]

[Rumbling]

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

NARRATOR:
Tonight the eruptions
are building in intensity.

It will be a long night.

Then, at 2:30 in the morning,
there is a monster eruption.

[Loud explosion]

[Rumbling]

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

NARRATOR:
The entire cone is
showered in glowing bombs

and the eruption even
propelled them down

the other side of the cone.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

NARRATOR:
The scale of eruption
is concerning.

There is no way off
the island

till the boat returns
in the morning.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

[Explosion]

NARRATOR:
For the next two hours,
the volcano enters

a period of calm.

Only a few small
eruptions occur,

followed by a continuous
glow in the crater.

The lull gives members of
the group a chance to sleep.

NARRATOR:
At about 3 am,
they are awoken again

by an even more
powerful eruption.

[Explosion]

[Rumbling]

[Rumbling]

[Rumbling]

NARRATOR:
This large eruption sent bombs
flying into the water.

Although not near the beach,
it is enough of a warning.

NARRATOR:
But with no way off the island
until the boat returns

in the morning,
all they can do is watch

and hope the eruptions
calm down.

[Rumbling and hissing]

[Rumbling and hissing]

[Rumbling and hissing]

TOM:
We just had a quite
large explosion

which ejected
a lot of material

and along with this material
some of the crater itself

apparently broke loose,
like now,

and started to
slide down,

forming a glowing
avalanche,

a minor pyroclastic flow,
maybe even.

And even travelled
over the sea

for some tens of meters,
I guess.

Produced a massive
ash and steam plume

that drifted along
with the wind this way.

And now the crater
morphology has changed.

You see, some of its outer
parts have collapsed

and we see the glowing interior
of the solid mass of lava.

What we see now
are rock falls,

caused by permutation.

There could be a change
in eruption style

that we're actually
witnessing.

Maybe it's less gas...

or magma that is pouring gas
coming up,

which contributes mainly
to the growth

of the lava dome

that in turn starts
breaking off,

causing these
glowing avalanches.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

NARRATOR:
This was a close call.

It's too dangerous
to be this close

to an unknown volcano
during such a violent cycle.

The group cannot risk
another night on the island.

They start to tear down
the camp and get ready

for the boat to return.

TOM:
Had an incredible
time here.

We've seen the most
spectacular fireworks

you can imagine, the bombs
smashing on the rocks,

and the glowing lava
illuminating the whole slope

and the reflection
on the water.

It's incredible.

NARRATOR:
As they're packing up,
the eruptions return to normal.

For Tom this was an
above-average risk,

but one that paid off.

He was able to photograph
the spectacular

Strombolian eruptions
at close range.

Witnessing a massive
surge in eruptions

is something that
cannot be predicted.

Batu Tara's explosions this
night were so strong

that they blew a section
of the cone off,

changing the actual structure
of the volcano.

NARRATOR:
It's likely this was a
natural part of its cycle

that prevents the volcano
from becoming too large.

It's a small window
into the process

that builds volcanic islands
like Batu Tara.

[Explosions]

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪