The Nevado del Ruiz volcano, located in the Andes mountains of Colombia, had been dormant for over 150 years. On November 13, 1985, it erupted violently, sending a massive avalanche of mud, ash, and debris, known as a lahar, down its slopes. The lahar engulfed the town of Armero, where 14-year-old Omayra Sánchez and her family lived, burying it under several meters of debris. The eruption killed approximately 23,000 people, making it one of the deadliest volcanic disasters in history.
Omayra was trapped in the rubble of her home, pinned down by debris with her legs submerged in water and concrete. Rescuers quickly reached her but were unable to free her due to the precarious situation and lack of proper equipment. Over the course of 60 hours, Omayra remained trapped, conscious, and remarkably calm despite the severe pain and distress she was enduring. She conversed with the rescuers and journalists who surrounded her.
As the hours passed, it became evident that freeing Omayra would be nearly impossible without amputation, which was not feasible in the conditions they were facing. Tragically, as her situation worsened, she succumbed to gangrene and hypothermia. Omayra died on November 16, 1985, after an agonizing and protracted ordeal.
Omayra's harrowing final moments were captured by photographer Frank Fournier, whose haunting image of her face—eyes wide open, staring into the camera—became an iconic representation of the disaster. The photograph, which won the World Press Photo of the Year in 1986, sparked global outrage and brought attention to the disaster, highlighting the inadequacies in the Colombian government's response and the lack of preparedness for such a catastrophe.
While some criticized the decision to publish such a graphic image, arguing that it exploited Omayra's suffering, others believed it was necessary to show the true horror of the situation and to galvanize international support for disaster relief efforts.
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