In November 1985, the world witnessed a tragedy that left an indelible scar on humanity. When the Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupted, it unleashed a devastating mudflow that buried the town of Armero in Colombia, wiping out nearly everything in its path.
Over 25,000 lives were lost in one of the most catastrophic natural disasters of all time. Amid the destruction, a single haunting image came to symbolize the unimaginable suffering: a young girl, Omayra Sánchez, trapped in the volcanic mudflow, her fragile face etched with courage and despair.
Captured by photojournalist Frank Fournier just hours before her death, the photograph shook the world. It won the prestigious World Press Photo of the Year in 1986 and remains one of the most powerful images of human vulnerability. But behind the lens, a question still echoes: Why didn’t the photographer save her?
Caution: This article contains material that may be disturbing to some readers.
Inside the Armero tragedy
To truly understand the heartbreaking photograph of Omayra Sánchez, we must first revisit the devastating event known as the Armero tragedy.
On November 13, 1985, the Nevado del Ruiz stratovolcano erupted after 69 years of dormancy, catching nearby towns completely off guard.
Nevado del Ruiz had erupted twice before — once in 1595 and again in 1845. On both occasions, avalanches roared down the Lagunilla River, the very area where the town of Armero would later be built.
Months before the 1985 eruption, experts had detected increased volcanic activity and warned Colombian authorities of the looming danger. Researchers, climbers, and political figures sounded the alarm about an impending disaster, but their warnings were largely ignored, despite clear signs of what was to come.
Farmers reported finding dead fish in nearby basins. Additionally, large amounts of sulfur were detected, and small explosions in the area even triggered a forest fire.
Yet, despite these warnings, no evacuation took place.
94% of the population was wiped out
As the volcano’s crater unleashed devastating pyroclastic flows, it rapidly melted the glaciers atop Nevado del Ruiz, sending four massive lahars — fast-moving mudflows, landslides, and debris — hurtling down its slopes at terrifying speeds of 50 km/h (30 mph). The lahars gained momentum as they rushed through gullies, ultimately engulfing the town of Armero in their deadly path.
According to Colombian sources, the eruption claimed the lives of around 23,000 people — nearly 94% of Armero’s population. The eruption’s smoke and ash soared up to 15 kilometers high, dramatically altering the region’s climate and leaving it in a state of devastation. Entire neighborhoods were wiped out, with 5,092 homes destroyed, 4,718 of them in Armero alone.
The disaster left 230,000 people impacted, with material losses estimated between 35 and 50 billion Colombian pesos, which translates to approximately $7.5 million to $10.5 million USD.
Story of Omayra Sánchez Garzón
Among the many victims was 13-year-old Omayra Sánchez Garzón, whose tragic situation drew the world’s focus.
Omayra Sánchez was born on August 28, 1972, in the town of Armero, where she grew up with her parents, Álvaro Enrique, who worked as a rice and sorghum collector, and María Aleida, a nurse. She shared her home with her brother, Álvaro Enrique, and her aunt, María Adela Garzón.
On the night of the Armero catastrophe , Omayra and her family were awake, concerned about the ash from the erupting Nevado del Ruiz volcano.
As they anxiously watched, they suddenly heard the deafening sound of an approaching lahar. When the massive eruption buried the Andean valley of Armero under a sea of mud, Omayra became trapped beneath the wreckage of her home, with concrete and debris pinning her down, making escape impossible.
A brave soul in the face of despair
As rescue workers arrived, they found her legs trapped under the rubble, her aunt’s lifeless arms still tightly clutching her. Despite efforts to pull her free, the task seemed impossible — any attempt to move her risked causing further harm. Her legs were trapped so tightly that rescuers placed a tire around her to keep her afloat as rising water surrounded her. Though the rescuers tried everything they could, it soon became clear that the situation was dire.
Doctors determined that the only way to free Omayra was by amputating both of her legs at the knees. However, there was no equipment available to perform the necessary surgery.
