Omayra’s Last Moments
Omayra was strong in her final hours. She stayed calm as her condition worsened with rescuers and reporters around. She hallucinated, saying she had to go to school for a math test. She asked those around her to relax even in pain.
A Farewell to Family
As her strength left, Omayra said her last words: “Mommy, I love you so much, Daddy, I love you, Brother, I love you.” She died on November 16, 1985, perhaps from gangrene or hypothermia. Her mother survived and said, “It’s terrible, but we have to focus on the living. I’ll live for my son, who only lost a finger.”
A Call for Accountability
Omayra’s death and the disaster’s scale led to wide criticism of the Colombian government for ignoring warnings and failing to evacuate people. Fournier’s photograph remains a haunting reminder of the cost of inaction. “People still find the image disturbing,” Fournier said. “It shows the lasting impact of this little girl. I was lucky to be a link to share her story. That’s the power of photojournalism.”