Maysha's Blog..

13th November 1985 ,The Awful Story of Omayra Sanchez . 

Often, nature is breathtaking. Vast expanses of vegetated land, towering mountains with snow-capped peaks, and seas and oceans as far as the eye can see. But along with beauty, nature also holds inherent strength. It has the power to destroy whatever it wants and human life and the built environment are like cattle to it.

Massive tsunamis, lightning strikes and volcanic eruptions have claimed more innocent lives than can be counted. The impact that nature has on us serves as a sobering reminder that, although we are in a better position to survive than other animals, we are still at the will of Mother Earth.

Omayra Sanchez,

13 November 1985. The sky in the Colombian  city of Armero  was cloudy since morning.  

it was raining sometimes . It was four in the afternoon. A Thirteen-year-old  girl, Omayra Sanchez ,was picking rice from the fields 

with her father Alvero and brother Alveiro. Mother Maria Aleida went to Bogota, the capital of Colombia, 160 kilometers from home. She works as a nurse there. Suddenly the sound of 'Gum' 'Gum' came from the west. Omayra was surprised. Thinking of the 

sound of the  cloud's calling, she turned her attention back to work. Omaira returned home with her father and brother after collecting all the paddy. And  started cooking dinner with her Aunt Maria Adela.

 The sound that  Omayra thought was the sound of the clouds was actually the sound 

of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano (17500 feet) erupting after 79 years. The volcano which locals know as 'Sleeping Lion'.  The Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupted once in September 1985. Columbia's Institute of Mining and Geology created a map of the impending disaster in October. The map also indicated that the city of Armero of the Omayra's 

would be the worst affected. The Colombian government did not listen. 

It was 9.09 pm on the clock, and  the surrounding area of ​​​​about one hundred kilometers was shaken by the loud noise. 

The snow- capped peaks of Nevado del Ruiz, just 48 kilometers from the city of Armero, were blown away by a devastating exploration. A stream of Hot lava came out 

of the crater of the volcano. The sky was covered with red ash. The ice at the toop of the volcano and the glaciers at it's base were melted by the heat of the boiling lava. The huge water was rushing along the banks of the Guali river at a speed of twenty-two kilometers per hour, raising three overwhelming waves. It carried thousands 

of boulders, stones, trees and mud. The waves were rushing towards the fourteen townships. The first and most formidable attack was on the town of Armero in front. 

Armero was plunged into darkness thirty minutes before the first wave, carrying billions of tons of mud, trees and rocks, hit. Some blood-curdling noises were heard by the townspeople. But what was happening, no one understood anything. So thousands 

of people came out with torches. Omayra fell on the roof of the house with her father  and brother . Omaira couldn't see anything 

except the torches that were scurrying about in the darkness. Thousands of torches were suddenly extinguished at the same time. Screams came from all around. Before the townspeople knew it, Armero was hit by rocks, tree trunks, and mud The first wave.   Omaira's father and brother were swept away by the twenty-foot-high wave that swept over the roof of Omayra's house.   Omayra and Kakima Aleida were trapped 

by  the collapse roof beams and iron structure. Kakima was holding Omayra to 

her chest. But the mud wave gradually swallow Kakima. Kakima grabbed Omayra's legs with both hands as she sank under the mud stream. Omayra lost consciousness due to the suddenness of the incident. 

It started raining again. Omayra regained consciousness after the rain fell on her . 

After that she realized that she was up to 

her neck in mud. Her hands and feet are stuck somewhere under the mud. Screams were coming from all around. But after a while all those cries were no longer heard. The silence of the crematorium descended upon the heartbroken Armero. Armero was really dead then. About twenty-five thousand Armeros slept their last sleep under the mud. 

Rainwater began to accumulate on the mud. The water touched Omayra's chin, which was stuck in mud up to her neck. Omayra started screaming like a madman, "O father, where are you?", "Where are you, brother?", "Kakima, where are you?" Save me, I am sinking, Kakima.” At one point the water came up close to Omaira's nose. The intrepid Omayra almost unbelievably freed the right hand from the mud and filth. She tried to 

stay afloat with her right hand throughout the night. The brutal night was moving towards a hopeful dawn.

 

14 November 1985, about ten hours after the incident  A Red Cross rescue team arrived. Helped in the rescue work, along with the local people who survived. Scattered all over Armero were the corpses of the unfortunate townspeople buried in the mud. Hearing the voice of the rescue team,  Omayra gathered all their strength and shouted, "Save me", "Save me". The members of the rescue team were startled to hear the girls voice in the pile of dead.  After a frantic search, a member of the group found Omayra. He 

tried to pull her by the hand. Omayra cried out in great pain. The rescuers realized that Omayra's feet were stuck under the mud. 

Rescuers removed mud, stones, wood, tiles and broken pieces of concrete that surrounded Omayra throughout the day. They  freed Omaira's left arm and waist. But despite a thousand attempts, the legs could not be freed. Another obstacle appeared.  As soon as the garbage was removed from around Omayra, the hole started filling up with water coming in from all sides. Omayra began to sink under the water again. An air-filled tube was placed under her chest to keep her  afloat. A long branch was placed in front.  So that she can float on the branch. 

Thirty-six hours after the 15 November ,1985 that incident , a rescuer team went underwater and he Saw a shocking scene. Omayra  is kneeling in water up to her neck. A concrete beam crushed both of her legs below the knees. A dead woman her (Kakima) is holding the crushed legs. The terrified team member came up quickly.

The rescue team repeatedly appealed to the Colombian government to send a pump and gas cutter via walkie-talkie. Because they 

had no tools other than shovels, stretchers, and sticks  . They also requested that a bulldozer be sent by helicopter. The rescue team also asked for troops to be deployed in Armero on a wartime basis. But the inhuman Colombian government did not respond to that request. Because Colombian troops 

were fighting the M-Nineteen guerrillas around  the capital Bogata. 

The Red Cross made an incredible decision 

to fail to rescue Omayra despite all efforts. 

Omayra's legs stuck under the mud will be removed through two operations and lifted. The doctors discussed for about an hour. Then the doctors told the leader of the 

rescue team that it is not possible to go 

under the muddy water and do this operation. Moreover, if the operation is 

done, the girl will have to suffer hellish pain. Omayra cannot be saved by the operation. Poisonous water will cause gangrene. 

Rather than that, Omayra should be gifted with a natural death. The girl has been standing in the mud for more than fifty hours. Her body temperature started dropping at an abnormal rate. Only a few more hours. Nature itself will gift Omayra a painless death. Everyone accepted this shocking decision. Although they knew that 

a cruel and painful death was going to be gifted to the Omayra's. 

 Omayra's hands turned white like paper, Omayra did not know that her death warrant had been signed. That's why she started a story with the Colombian journalist Santa Maria Barragan with the hope of saving her life . Santa Maria had been sitting beside Omayra  since the morning of the 14th November, and Seeing the thirteen-year-old girl's struggle for survival left her speechless. For two days straight, she talked to Omayra and trying to keep the girl sane. Omayra wanted sweets and soft drinks from Maria. Maria had brought food from far away. Fulfilled Omayra's last wish. In the meantime, Santa Maria also took an interview of Omayra. The interview from which the 

world learned about the fateful night of 

13th November .  

French photo-journalist Frank Fournier arrived in Bogotá. After driving for five 

hours and walking for two and a half hours, reached Omayra on the night of 15th November . A powerful torch light was left 

on Omayra . Omayra repeatedly requested everyone to rest. When everyone moved away from her, she would be able to get 

some sleep. 

Omayra started making  hallucination from midnight that day. With a hoarse voice she said, “I did not go to school for two days. 

take me to school Otherwise I will not be 

able to give the math test. I will not waste a year." Hearing Omayra's words, Maria 

moved away and burst into tears. Everyone surrounded Omayra again. Someone was patting her head. Some were kissing the cold hands that were wet with water and turned white like paper. 

From the morning of the 16th November, Omayra was getting weaker and weaker. She lost the power to speak. Still did not give up hope of survival. That's why she kept extending her right hand towards Maria. As if she wanted to say, please try to drag me one last time. Maria noticed that Omayra's drooping eyes began to bleed. The color of her face is rapidly turning dark brown . The last moments of Omayra's life were captured on camera by photo-journalist Frank Fournier. 

It was ten o'clock. Omayra's head was 

thrown back. Omayra was taking big breaths. Bloodshot eyes were gradually closing due 

to infinite fatigue. Omayra tried to get out of the death well by combining all the forces. She Opening her eyes for the last time and  wanted to see this  beautiful world. Omayra's last look was also  captured on camera by Fournier. And There was immense hatred in that look.

Fournier took the last picture of Omayra when she's alive, which made the world cry. Then Omayra's head full of curly black hair was submerged in the water. Only the nose and mouth and one eye were visible from above. It was 10.05 in the morning. Ended the 60-hour continuous struggle of 

the brave Omayra. She freed herself forever with inhuman suffering. Omayra Sanchez's frozen body was covered with a blue and white sheet. Frank Fournier's last photograph of Omayra sent the world into a frenzy. And 

Her picture went on to win the World Press Photo of The Year award in 1986. Millions of people held placards in the streets of Colombia. And on them was written, "Twenty-five thousand lives have been taken by the corrupt government, not the volcano." The girl Omayra  have gone to the land of eternal peace Thirty seven years ago. Omayra left the world in tears, leaving behind the most shocking film in history.