In 1985 Armero was a prosperous town with 30000 people, in Tolima Department, Colombia. They called it “la ciudad blanca”, because of the cotton plantations. The town was destroyed on November 13, after the eruption of Nevado del Ruiz, a volcano located 30 mi far from Armero. The volcano erupted a small amount of pyroclastic flows but it melted the close glaciers, creating lahars (lava, mud and rocks) that descended into the Lagunillas valley, reaching Armero at the 11:30 PM. The avalanche killed 23.000 people and erased most part of the settlement.
Rescue efforts were inadequate because obstructed by mud but also because Colombian government was unable to manage the emergency. Thousands of survivors died the days after because were abandoned below the ruins. Many children survived but during the rescues they were separated from their families. In the rush of the tragedy they have been taken away without any record. In many cases, not legally, they were given in adoption to Colombians or abroad.
The Armando Armero Foundation takes care of historical issues since 2006 and in the last five years dedicated efforts to the missing children cause. According to his director, Francisco Gonzalez, there are 236 cases so far of families looking for their lost children.
The aim of this project is to represent the memory of these children through the portraits of their absence. I show places where some of them lived, in the old town.

This project has been realized thanks to the help of Armando Armero Foundation and his director Francisco Gonzalez.