Omayra Sánchez - She was trapped for 3 days in water, concrete, and other debris before she died.

Omayra Sanchez was a 13-year old victim of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano which erupted on November 13, 1985 in Armero, Colombia, causing massive lahars which killed nearly 25,000. She was trapped for 3 days in water, concrete, and other debris before she died.

Her image was taken by photojournalist Frank Fournier shortly before she died. The image caused controversy due to the photographer's work and the Colombian government's inaction in working to prevent the Armero tragedy despite the forewarning that had been available, when it was published worldwide after the young girl's death.

Omayra Sanchez was 13 years old at the time and lived with her parents, her brother and an uncle. However, prior to the tragedy, her mother had traveled to Bogotá on business. The night of the disaster, she and her family had awakened and heard the sound of a lahar approaching in their direction. In the process of evacuating to a nearby mount, Omaira's grandmother fell into a water aqueduct hole, and Omayra herself stopped with the intent to rescue her trapped sibling, when the flow reached them. Omayra got trapped under her own home's concrete and debris and could not escape. When rescue teams tried to help her, they realized that her legs were trapped.

Omayra was trapped up to her neck in water, concrete, and other debris for three days before she succumbed to gangrene and hypothermia. During three nights of agony, Omayra seemed strong but was suffering. According to Cristina Echandia, a journalist who kept records of the events, Omayra sang and had normal conversations with the people who were trying to help her. The little girl was thirsty and scared. On the third night, Omayra began hallucinating, saying that she did not want to be late for school. At some point she asked the people to leave her so they could rest.

Television coverage of the disaster introduced her to the world when she was still alive. The photo shown here was taken hours before her death and published after her death.

The volcano Nevado del Ruiz is still active, according to the Volcano Watch Center in Colombia. However, at this point no other city or town remains close enough to be seriously affected in the event of an eruption. The only city, Armero, no longer exists and was turned into a memorial of the disaster where only crosses can be seen. A small "mausoleum" exists in Omayra's memory ^[1]

Omaira Sanchez herself remains in the memory of those who followed her suffering and death. Some local newspapers commemorated both the 20 years of the volcanic eruption as well as Omaira's death, and her case was also mentioned in TV and radio commemorations.

Isabel Allende's "And of Clay Are We Created" is based on these events.

Omayra Sanchez trapped in the Armero tragedy. Photograph taken by Frank Fournier.

Rest in peace Omayra

Let us pray for her. For she is resting in Lord's arms.

Here are some link to go Omayra's tribute page.

Nevado_del_Ruiz

BBC News-Omayra Sanchez

Again I end today's story with some quotes from Status Shuffle

Wonders...what would it be like today if she hadn't died? Would today be different than yesterday or Would it be the exact same?

she...is beautiful, is caring, is hard to handle at times, is sassy, is fun, is smart, is brave...she is my daughter!

when i look at my daughter i start to wonder how i smiled before she came along!

says...I have never had any person in my life I love as much as my daughter. And I would trade nothing for her xx

says I'm not perfect,i may have done wrong,but when i look into the eyes of my daughter as she hugs me.i see perfection and the best thing i did right.

is wondering with all this bickering, messes. toys and clothes on the floor is worth it. Then I hear her singing. I smile to myself ..yes its worth it.

: she's like me in so many way, somehow the good shows though, but the bad is so much more exaggerated. lol That's my daughter! :) The bond and love is forever!

I never imagined this much love until she was born. I'd give her the world if I could & I try everyday. Every time she looks at me I remember the greatest gift.