The Armero Tragedy is one of the deadliest natural disasters in the history of Latin America.
The event occurred in a small town named Armero, Colombia on November 13, 1985 when a volcanic eruption led to a massive mudflow that erased an entire town. More than 25,000 people lost their lives, and the event is remembered not only for its destruction but also for the warnings that went ignored beforehand.
The disaster began with the eruption of Nevado del Ruiz, a volcano that had been displaying signs of activity for months. When it finally erupted, hot ash and lava melted the mountain’s ice cap, which in turn created giant mudflows called lahars. These lahars rushed down the slopes at dangerously high speeds and reached the town of Armero within about two hours. Residents were in their respective homes, either sleeping or tuning into a huge soccer match that same night, and had no idea of the impending tragedy.
Scientists had warned government officials that an eruption was likely, and maps even showed that Armero was in danger from mudflows. However, the warnings were not taken seriously, and the evacuation was ordered in an untimely manner by the Colombian government. When the lahars struck, they buried homes, roads, and people under the thick layers of mud and debris.
Furthermore, rescue efforts were difficult because they were called to action when a majority of Armero’s residents had passed. The rescue efforts of those who did survive were very difficult because the mud was deep and the town was destroyed to a great extent.
Colombian citizen Cristina Bañol said, “I was 20 years old when the tragedy occurred. I traveled to Armero with my partner at the time to find his loved ones immediately after the event, and it was horrible. I remember the darkness, people, children screaming…never in my life will I forget that experience.”
One of the most famous victims was a young girl named Omayra Sánchez, whose story drew global attention to the tragedy. Documented by photographer Frank Fourier in her last hours, Sánchez, despite being trapped under a brick door, remained relatively positive, although she knew that rescuers could not find a way to save her.
After her story was released to the public, Sánchez not only became the face of the Armero Tragedy, but also a catalyst for disaster preparation, for the country did not have sufficient resources and equipment due to its undeveloped status at the time of the event. Additionally, her story helped in the formation of USGS Volcano Disaster Assistance Program in 1986, which was established to prevent similar tragedies and provide rapid aid to these types of crises.
In the months that followed, tragedy continued as reports of missing children surfaced. This is due to the fact that most had been mistakenly taken to distant shelters or hospitals, while others were separated in the mudflow and never identified. Four decades later, families continued the search for the approximately 583 missing children amidst the difficulty of reliving the tragedy.
Sophomore Aline Arango said, “Although I wasn’t alive during the time, it definitely had an impact on both Colombia and the world in general, because various disaster prevention systems wouldn’t have been created, and who knows where we would be.”
Today, Armero is a ghost town because none of the structures were rebuilt after the disaster, and all citizens fled to refuge in nearby towns. Some visitors even say that they have found the ruins of Armero more emotionally moving than those of Pompeii, given that it was not renovated or organized, rather exactly how it was the day of the tragedy, frozen in time.
