One of the most haunting images in photojournalism came from Colombia’s Nevado del Ruiz disaster in 1985.
When the volcano erupted, it triggered powerful mudflows that swept through the town of Armero and nearby communities. More than 20,000 people were killed, with many others left missing or injured. The scale of the tragedy was later linked to poor preparation and the lack of effective evacuation planning, despite warnings about the danger.
The disaster became closely associated with 13-year-old Omayra Sánchez Garzón. Photographer Frank Fournier captured her trapped in water and debris, with only her head above the surface. Her legs were pinned under rubble from her home, leaving rescuers unable to free her without heavy equipment. She remained trapped for around 60 hours.
Witnesses said Omayra moved between fear and calm. As time passed, she began hallucinating and spoke about not wanting to be late for school. She later died, with officials suggesting hypothermia or gangrene as possible causes.
After the photo spread, Fournier faced intense criticism. Many people asked why he took pictures instead of trying to save her. In later interviews, including with the BBC, he said a rescue was not possible at the scene. He defended the decision to document what happened, arguing the image revealed serious failures in leadership and emergency response — and that it helped draw international attention and support for victims.