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The Fires of Qayyara

12 images Created 8 Sep 2017

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  • Fires have been burning for the last four months in the oil rich town of Qayarra, south of Mosul ever since ISIS retreated and set fire to the wells, creating a massive environmental disaster. These massive fires are now visible from space. Qayyara, Iraq. Nov. 23, 2016. (Photo by Gabriel Romero ©2016)
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  • Pools of oil burn in front of what was once someone's home. These fires were set alight by ISIS fighters to cover their retreat from airstrikes in August of 2016. Qayyara, Iraq. Nov. 23, 2016. (Photo by Gabriel Romero ©2016)
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  • An unexploded mortar lies close to the firefighting efforts underscoring the danger facing the firefighters everyday. Qayyara, Iraq. Nov. 23, 2016. (Photo by Gabriel Romero ©2016)
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  • Firefighters from Kirkuk, Iraq work the line of fires that stretch for many miles. The hours are long and they have no special equipment. Water is their only weapon. Qayyara, Iraq. Nov. 23, 2016. (Photo by Gabriel Romero ©2016)
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  • Firefighters from the city of Kirkuk, Iraq who specialize in the disposal of oil field fires have been fighting The Qayyara fires for months. They claim that it will take many months more. Qayyara, Iraq. Nov. 23, 2016. (Photo by Gabriel Romero ©2016)
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  • A Firefighter from Kirkuk, Iraq pauses to rest. The pride these men have in their work shows in their faces. They claim that they don't do it for the money, but for their country. Qayyara, Iraq. Nov. 23, 2016. (Photo by Gabriel Romero ©2016)
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  • A single hose is trained on a burning pit of oil during firefighting efforts. The water comes from the nearby Tigris River. Qayyara, Iraq. Nov. 23, 2016. (Photo by Gabriel Romero ©2016)
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  • These children cared little about politics. They were happy that ISIS was gone and simply wished to play. Qayyara, Iraq. Nov. 23, 2016. (Photo by Gabriel Romero ©2016)
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  • Children play in the smoke and soot of the oil fires unaware of the damage that released carcinogens will do to their developing bodies for many years to come. Qayyara, Iraq. Nov. 23, 2016. (Photo by Gabriel Romero ©2016)
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  • Children learn young about guns in Iraq and these boys joked that they were the ones that drove ISIS out of their town. In a few years many of them will be holding the real thing. Qayyara, Iraq. Nov. 23, 2016. (Photo by Gabriel Romero ©2016)
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  • A lone tree amidst the smoke and anger of the fires. Qayyara, Iraq. Nov. 23, 2016. (Photo by Gabriel Romero ©2016)
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Gabriel Romero - Photojournalist

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