Omayra Sanchez and the Nevado del Ruiz Tragedy

The eruption of the Nevado Ruiz was regarded as the second worst volcano disaster of the twentieth century. (Deadly Lahars) Because of the vast number of peop

In other parts of the world there are settlements located close to active volcanoes, but modern seismic equipment is used to closely monitor them. If one of these volcanoes is going to erupt, scientists know about it much in advance, and appropriate action can be taken. In the United States, proper surveillance of volcanoes has yielded many positive results. Take, for example, the eruption of the Hawaiian volcano of Mauna Loa. Because of careful observation, the eruption of this tropical volcano was predicted much in advance. (Mauna Loa) The Columbians had no such equipment, and for their failure to properly monitor an active volcano that had caused extensive loss of life in the past, they paid dearly. If the site formerly occupied by the town of Armero is ever repopulated, steps should be taken to install this equipment to keep tabs on the volcano’s activity. Though it is likely that Nevado del Ruiz will not erupt again for many years to come, it is better to be safe than sorry. With proper equipment and observation of the many volcanoes of the world, no one should ever die as a result of an eruption ever again.

The history of the region provided yet another reason as to why the people of Armero should have relocated. According to USGS studies of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano, disasters similar to the Armero tragedy have been present throughout history. Spanish colonists were killed by the hundreds twice in the last half millennium, once in 1595, and again in 1845. These colonists were killed in the same fashion as the residents of Armero, drowned in a river of mud caused by the melting of mountain top ice. (Nevado del Ruiz) Looking back on these historical disasters, the people of Armero should have reconsidered where they built their town.

Frank Fournier’s photograph has, at least for me, brought up a number of questions. Why did this girl have to die? What circumstances prevented her from being saved? Could the photographer have lent a helping hand in this situation, or was the situat

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