Case file · Haunting

Armero and Omayra Sánchez

On 13 November 1985 lahars from Nevado del Ruiz buried the town of Armero and over 20,000 people; the grave of Omayra Sánchez, who died trapped for three days, became a shrine of reported miracles.

1985 CE · 4.96, -74.91 · status: legend

The account

Visitors leave plaques thanking her for favours; ghost stories and the belief that the ruins are haunted grew in the decades after.

The sceptical view

The disaster is documented in full; the miracle and ghost reports are part of mourning and popular devotion.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia: Armero tragedy
  2. Wikipedia: Omayra Sánchez
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