In November 1985, the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia catastrophically erupted, causing a deadly mudflow that decimated the town of Armero and claimed the lives of approximately 25,000 people.
This disaster is remembered not just for its horrific death toll but for the poignant images that captured the world’s attention, particularly of Omayra Sánchez Garzón, a 13-year-old girl trapped in the debris.
Omayra was pinned beneath the ruins of her own home, surrounded by a toxic mixture of volcanic lava and ice known as lahar, which ravaged the river valleys and villages in its path. Despite being stuck under the debris with her deceased aunt’s arms around her, her plight was broadcast globally, drawing attention to the severe lack of preparedness by local authorities.