In 1985, the catastrophic eruption of Nevado del Ruiz in Colombia resulted in the loss of over 20,000 lives, wreaking havoc on the town of Armero. Among those tragically affected was 13-year-old Omayra Sánchez Garzón, who became trapped under debris in neck-deep water when lahars swept through the area. Despite the relentless efforts of volunteers to rescue her, Omayra endured an agonizing 60 hours without any means of escape.
During this harrowing time, French photographer Frank Fournier captured a poignant image of Omayra in her final moments, which would go on to receive the World Press Photo of the Year award in 1986. The photograph poignantly depicted her struggle for survival, with bloodshot eyes reflecting the pain of her situation—her legs pinned and the cold water closing in around her.
While Frank Fournier faced criticism for photographing rather than intervening, he expressed that as a photojournalist, his duty was to document the reality of her courage and suffering. He hoped that his work would shed light on the magnitude of the disaster. Sadly, Omayra passed away on November 16, likely due to complications from gangrene or hypothermia.
