Armero: 35 years of the avalanche that left 25,000 dead due to the eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano – Other Cities – Colombia

With discreet masses and celebrations that will take into account biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of covid-19, Tolima pays tribute to the 25,000 people who died on the night of November 13, 1985 in the Armero avalanche (the same number of victims left the covid-19 in Colombia between April and September), a town on the shores of the central highway between Mariquita and Honda that at that time was the most prosperous in the region but of which today only ruins remain, stories and memories.

“That night we all heard a horrible roar and then the avalanche hit us,” said a 75-year-old survivor who lost a large part of his family.

It is undoubtedly the date of the worst natural tragedy in Colombia because in the blink of an eye the Nevado del Ruiz volcano expelled gases, materials and hot trapped air that melted a snow cap which produced an avalanche with water, huge stones, trees and mud that descended at about 60 kilometers per hour through the Lagunilla to reach the urban area where it dragged houses, commercial premises, banks, the Mayor’s Office, Police Station, firefighters, temples, sports venues, vehicles and schools.