This famous photo of Omayra Sánchez was taken within the last few hours of her life..
via Frank Fournier
The tale of Omayra is one which is very sad- but very important as it shows you what happens when a government fails to act. The government told people by radio that the close by volcano, Nevado Del Ruiz, had just spouted a cloud of dust.. Nothing to worry about, right? Wrong.
Omayra was a Colombian girl killer in Armero, by the 1985 eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz. She was only 13 years old. 25,000 people died on this day, but her tale was documented for the world to see. When her home was destroyed, she became pinned underneath a beam and the body of her Aunt. She was trapped for 3 days in water, and reporters documented her torture. They did not have the necessary equipment to save her- and were not able to provide her with the medical treatment necessary to save her. She likely died of Hypothermia or Gangrene. Her courage touched everyone as the people near her witnessed her go from calm to utter terror. She had hallucinations, and the reason why her eyes are clack is because the blood vessels in her eyes ruptured.
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