WITNESSarchive

W–023 · Documentary photograph and sources

Omayra Sánchez

Omayra Sánchez was found alive where her house had stood. The thirteen-year-old was trapped by debris, her legs pinned beneath the water. On the night of 13 November 1985, a small eruption of Nevado del Ruiz melted part of its glacier. Lahars—flows of water, ash and rock—swept along Colombia’s river valleys, travelling as far as a hundred kilometres in roughly two hours. Around 23,000 people died beneath the mud in Armero. The disaster claimed more than 25,000 lives altogether.

1. Omayra Sánchez

Omayra looks towards the camera, holding a wooden beam. By that morning the thirteen-year-old had spent more than two days trapped amid water and wreckage.
Omayra looks towards the camera, holding a wooden beam. By that morning the thirteen-year-old had spent more than two days trapped amid water and wreckage.
Provenance and sources for frame 1

Frank Fournier / Contact Press Images photographed this series at Armero, Colombia, on 16 November 1985. World Press Photo publishes the ten-frame sequence; its first image won World Press Photo of the Year 1986. Displayed file: 1920 × 1258 pixels. Full image record in Russian.

worldpressphoto.orgView image file

Rescuers kept Omayra above the water, brought her drinks, talked with her and prayed alongside her. Freeing her legs required pumping the water away. The Red Cross repeatedly asked for a pump and other equipment. None arrived in time.

2. Among the ruins

Omayra holds the beam while Red Cross rescuers work behind her. Fragments of walls, roof and wooden supports are all that remain around the flooded house.
Omayra holds the beam while Red Cross rescuers work behind her. Fragments of walls, roof and wooden supports are all that remain around the flooded house.
Provenance and sources for frame 2

Frank Fournier / Contact Press Images photographed this series at Armero, Colombia, on 16 November 1985. World Press Photo publishes the ten-frame sequence; its first image won World Press Photo of the Year 1986. Displayed file: 1268 × 1920 pixels. Full image record in Russian.

worldpressphoto.orgView image file

3. Help at the water’s edge

A rescuer with a bottle reaches towards Omayra’s face. Another holds onto his clothing as he lies over the flooded site on the debris.
A rescuer with a bottle reaches towards Omayra’s face. Another holds onto his clothing as he lies over the flooded site on the debris.
Provenance and sources for frame 3

Frank Fournier / Contact Press Images photographed this series at Armero, Colombia, on 16 November 1985. World Press Photo publishes the ten-frame sequence; its first image won World Press Photo of the Year 1986. Displayed file: 1920 × 1251 pixels. Full image record in Russian.

worldpressphoto.orgView image file

Photographer Frank Fournier reached Omayra at dawn on 16 November. Coming from New York, he had taken about five hours to drive from Bogotá and another two and a half to reach the site on foot. By then the girl had been trapped for more than two days.

4. Water for Omayra

A rescuer pours water from a bottle over the girl’s head, steadying her with his other hand. The equipment on site could not free her legs.
A rescuer pours water from a bottle over the girl’s head, steadying her with his other hand. The equipment on site could not free her legs.
Provenance and sources for frame 4

Frank Fournier / Contact Press Images photographed this series at Armero, Colombia, on 16 November 1985. World Press Photo publishes the ten-frame sequence; its first image won World Press Photo of the Year 1986. Displayed file: 1920 × 1259 pixels. Full image record in Russian.

worldpressphoto.orgView image file

5. A hand on hers

A person beside Omayra places a hand over hers on the wooden beam. Rescuers remained with her and kept her above the water.
A person beside Omayra places a hand over hers on the wooden beam. Rescuers remained with her and kept her above the water.
Provenance and sources for frame 5

Frank Fournier / Contact Press Images photographed this series at Armero, Colombia, on 16 November 1985. World Press Photo publishes the ten-frame sequence; its first image won World Press Photo of the Year 1986. Displayed file: 1920 × 1280 pixels. Full image record in Russian.

worldpressphoto.orgView image file

Fournier later remembered Omayra slipping in and out of consciousness. She asked to be taken to school, afraid of being late. He photographed her and the rescue effort. About three hours after he arrived, Omayra died. She had spent some sixty hours in the water and debris.

6. At the beam

Omayra’s head tilts back and her eyes are closed. She still holds the beam above the water with one hand, surrounded by wreckage.
Omayra’s head tilts back and her eyes are closed. She still holds the beam above the water with one hand, surrounded by wreckage.
Provenance and sources for frame 6

Frank Fournier / Contact Press Images photographed this series at Armero, Colombia, on 16 November 1985. World Press Photo publishes the ten-frame sequence; its first image won World Press Photo of the Year 1986. Displayed file: 1920 × 1263 pixels. Full image record in Russian.

worldpressphoto.orgView image file

7. An attempt to help

Rescuers bend over Omayra and support her head. One moves close to her face while another holds her among the water and debris.
Rescuers bend over Omayra and support her head. One moves close to her face while another holds her among the water and debris.
Provenance and sources for frame 7

Frank Fournier / Contact Press Images photographed this series at Armero, Colombia, on 16 November 1985. World Press Photo publishes the ten-frame sequence; its first image won World Press Photo of the Year 1986. Displayed file: 1920 × 1272 pixels. Full image record in Russian.

worldpressphoto.orgView image file

Fournier passed his exposed film to colleagues heading to the airport. Paris Match published the photographs after Omayra’s death. Their appearance brought accusations that he had taken pictures instead of saving her.

8. Examining her

One person lifts Omayra’s eyelid while another holds her raised arm. This is the eighth frame in Frank Fournier’s official series.
One person lifts Omayra’s eyelid while another holds her raised arm. This is the eighth frame in Frank Fournier’s official series.
Provenance and sources for frame 8

Frank Fournier / Contact Press Images photographed this series at Armero, Colombia, on 16 November 1985. World Press Photo publishes the ten-frame sequence; its first image won World Press Photo of the Year 1986. Displayed file: 1340 × 1920 pixels. Full image record in Russian.

worldpressphoto.orgView image file

9. Eyes closed

Omayra remains in the water and wreckage with her eyes shut. A person’s hand rests near her forehead as the attempt to help continues.
Omayra remains in the water and wreckage with her eyes shut. A person’s hand rests near her forehead as the attempt to help continues.
Provenance and sources for frame 9

Frank Fournier / Contact Press Images photographed this series at Armero, Colombia, on 16 November 1985. World Press Photo publishes the ten-frame sequence; its first image won World Press Photo of the Year 1986. Displayed file: 1338 × 1920 pixels. Full image record in Russian.

worldpressphoto.orgView image file

He replied that the means at hand could not free Omayra. His aim, he said, was to show her courage and the failures of the rescue effort. In 1986, her portrait was named World Press Photo of the Year. The competition archive preserves a series of ten frames.

10. Medical attention

A man in a white coat listens to Omayra with a stethoscope. Two others hold her hands among the flooded remains of her home.
A man in a white coat listens to Omayra with a stethoscope. Two others hold her hands among the flooded remains of her home.
Provenance and sources for frame 10

Frank Fournier / Contact Press Images photographed this series at Armero, Colombia, on 16 November 1985. World Press Photo publishes the ten-frame sequence; its first image won World Press Photo of the Year 1986. Displayed file: 1920 × 1282 pixels. Full image record in Russian.

worldpressphoto.orgView image file