NATURE TAKES ITS TOLL
THE ARMERO TRAGEDY
According to 1.985 census Lerida had 15.777 inhabitants on the banks of Lagunilla river two hamlets were founded in 1.840: Tasajeras and San Lorenzo.
Those hamlets were devastated for a landslide of mud and stone coming from The Nevado del Ruiz in February 19, 1845. After that the San Lorenzo village was created in 1.861, this territory was recognized as a place of commercial importance due to railroad building between Ambalema-Honda.
Its name was changed in 1930 for Armero , in homage to the hero of Mariquita, José León Armero, quickly it becomes one of the most important municipalities in the department for its fertile oil. In December 1, 1984 the Nevado Del Ruiz reactivates its fumaroles.
In November 13, 1985 at 11:00 p.m. Armero disappeared in the mudflow caused by melt of the Nevado Del Ruiz only one quarter of its 28,700 inhabitants survived. The Armero tragedy, as the event came to be known, was the second-deadliest volcanic disaster in the 20th century, being surpassed only by the 1902 eruption of Mount Pelée and is the fourth-deadliest volcanic eruption in recorded history.
Luz Garcia in her book, describes: “That night people ran desperate, many are knocked down by cars that tried to abandon the town”
Omayra Sánchez was a young victim of the tragedy, photographs of her were published around the world. Other photographs of the impact of the disaster captured attention worldwide and led to controversy over the degree to which the Colombian government was responsible for the disaster. A banner at a mass funeral in Ibagué read, "The volcano didn't kill 22,000 people. The government killed them."
The Armero disappearance caused social and economic instability in the department of Tolima, indeed Lerida became in a care center on the part of national government and different nations that arrived to give first aid.
In 1.988 the population of Lerida increases to 20.000 inhabitants, the municipality undergoes an urban transformation; many survivors of the Armero’s tragedy were located there and Lerida was named: “Ciudad Regional” (Regional City), a hospital called “Reina Sofia” (Queen sofia) was donated for Spain, a hotel called Minuto de Dios (Minute of God), avenues, streets an more.
John Paul II Visits Lerida
In July 6, 1986 on Sunday Jhon Paul II visited Lerida, a big platform was built, around 5.000 people from Lerida and different parts of the department and the country arrived, after he was carried to Armero where gave a speech.
