vcv

The town was left in ruins, and eventually, it was abandoned altogether.

Advertisement:

The Lethal Lahar: Nature’s Fury Unleashed

The Nevado del Ruiz volcano
Image Credit: IUGSThe deadly force behind the widespread destruction was a pyroclastic mudflow, known as a ‘lahar,’ triggered by the eruption. The intense heat from the volcanic activity melted glaciers atop the Nevado del Ruiz. This sent torrents of mud, ash, and debris racing down the mountain. Armero was struck by three successive lahars, which tragically claimed the lives of many who had initially survived the eruption. The disaster’s scale was compounded by the lack of adequate evacuation plans, despite scientists predicting the potential severity of the eruption.