A Tragic Story from the Nevado del Ruiz Eruption

On November 13, 1985, the Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupted in Colombia, triggering a deadly lahar that swiftly engulfed the town of Armero. The mud wall, traveling at 6 meters per second, wiped out much of the town, claiming the lives of up to 20,000 people.

Among the victims was 13-year-old Omayra Sánchez Garzón. After the eruption destroyed her home, she became trapped beneath the debris. For three days, she remained submerged in water, unable to free herself due to her legs being pinned by rubble. Rescue workers were unable to help, and divers later discovered that her legs were trapped under a brick door, with her deceased aunt’s arms tightly around her feet.

The prolonged submersion caused her eyes to become intensely bloodshot, which contributed to the haunting black-eyed look captured in a famous photograph by Frank Fournier. On the third night, as she began to hallucinate, Omayra spoke of wanting to attend school and mentioned a math exam. Her last words were, “Mummy, I love you very much.”

After nearly 60 hours, Omayra passed away from gangrene or hypothermia. Fournier’s photo won the 1986 World Press Photo of the Year and helped raise international awareness and aid for the tragedy, as well as shedding light on the negligence of the country’s leaders.