Heartbreaking Final Words of Girl Trapped 60 Hours After 1985 Colombia Eruption

The tragic final moments of 13-year-old Omayra Sánchez Garzón, who died after being trapped for 60 hours in mud and debris from a volcanic eruption in Colombia, remain one of the most haunting disaster stories ever captured.

Omayra was caught waist-deep in cement-like volcanic mud after the Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupted on November 13, 1985, triggering a devastating lahar — a fast-moving flow of volcanic ash, water, and debris. The disaster buried much of her home in Armero, Tolima, and killed around 25,000 people across 14 villages.

Rescue workers tried desperately to free the schoolgirl, but the wreckage pinned her legs under the remains of her house. Each attempt to pull her free risked drowning her as the muddy water level rose. To keep her afloat, rescuers placed a tire around her body while they worked tirelessly to save her.

For three days, Omayra remained calm despite her injuries and worsening condition. As her eyes darkened and her face swelled, she comforted those around her and shared heartbreaking words:
“Pray so that I can walk, and for these people to help me. Mummy, I love you very much. Daddy, I love you. My brother, I love you.”

International news outlets broadcast her ordeal live, and images of her resilience drew global attention. Volunteers brought her sweets and fizzy drinks to keep her spirits up, while journalists documented her harrowing final hours. On the third night, Omayra began hallucinating, mentioning her school exams, before succumbing to exhaustion and trauma.

Omayra lived with her parents, Álvaro Enrique and María Aleida, her brother Álvaro Enrique, and her aunt María Adela Garzón. While her brother survived, her father and aunt died in the eruption. Her mother, who was away on business in Bogotá, later said:
“It is horrible, but we have to think about the living… I will live for my son, who only lost a finger.”

The Nevado del Ruiz eruption remains one of Colombia’s deadliest natural disasters, with Omayra Sánchez becoming a symbol of both the tragedy and the human cost of delayed evacuation warnings.