John Otis, an NPR reporter, revisits the haunting aftermath of the 1985 Nevado del Ruiz disaster in Armero, Colombia, where mudslides claimed thousands of lives. He shares poignant stories from survivors like Fernando Angarita, who recalls the devastation and his own narrow escape. The conversation explores heartbreaking searches for missing children, with deeply symbolic rituals, including survivors launching model boats in memory of the lost. Otis highlights personal stories of hope, like Mariela Diaz’s emotional pilgrimage seeking her brother, encapsulating the enduring impact of this tragedy.
