Photographer breaks silence on Nevado del Ruiz tragedy photo

Three decades after capturing a poignant photograph of a young girl moments before her death in a mudslide, the photographer has broken his silence about the image. The heart-wrenching photo, taken during the Nevado del Ruiz volcano eruption in Colombia, has repeatedly resurfaced online, evoking sorrow and empathy.

The photographer has now spoken about the 13-year-old girl, Omayra, who perished shortly after the photo was taken. The eruption of Nevado del Ruiz occurred on 13 November 1985 in Armero, Colombia. The disaster not only spewed lava onto the town but also triggered massive landslides and mudslides, exacerbating the destruction.

The Armero Tragedy, as it is now known, claimed an estimated 25,000 lives and left thousands severely injured. Among the victims was Omayra, a 13-year-old girl trapped under debris, with half of her body submerged in sewage water.

Rescue workers made numerous attempts to save her, but her legs were pinned by an immovable brick door. She died after being trapped for 60 hours. Frank Fournier, a French photographer, captured Omayra’s final moments, creating an image that sparked global outrage.

At the 2022 Xposure International Photography Festival, Fournier reflected on Omayra’s death, praising her bravery and emphasising the photo’s significance. “For three nights and three days – stuck in a pool of sewage water at the bottom of a small hill, crushed under layers of fallen walls, a voice spoke for 28,000,” Fournier began.

“It was the voice of an ordinary little girl who crossed land and time, touching millions of hearts… Her commanding dignity, stunning courage, and relentless kindness during this painful hour revealed the magnitude of every individual.”

Fournier explained the lesson from the photo: “The cruel fate of this lost life – here, and in other stories, compels us to preserve and share the singularity of human life at all costs.” “It is not only a practical but ethical, political imperative, as each individual’s right to life benefits everyone.”