Bruno Barbey U.S. Marines with oil wells burning behind them. Ahmadi oil field, Burgan field, Kuwait. 1991.
“This image shows several burning oil wells which were damaged by retreating Iraqi soldiers during t
(...) he burning of the Ahmadi oil field in southern Kuwait on April 1, 1991. The Iraqi troops, retreating after a seven-month occupation, smashed and torched 727 wells, badly polluting the atmosphere and creating crude oil lakes. In addition, up to eight billion barrels of oil were spilled into the sea by Iraqi forces, damaging marine life and coastal areas up to 400 kilometres (250 miles) away.
This photograph was published in TIME as well as in a special issue of Life magazine which focused on the events of 1991. After this I received letters from some of the Marines in the photo who had participated in the liberation of Kuwait.”
Watch a short film on the wider project here:
https://vimeo.com/204573536
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– Bruno Barbey © Bruno Barbey | Magnum Photos