Parents search for children missing since a volcanic eruption in Colombia 40 years ago

Parents in Colombia continue to search for their children who went missing 40 years ago when the Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupted, causing a devastating avalanche that wiped out the town of Armero and killed approximately 25,000 people. On the eve of the 40th anniversary of the disaster, families released boats with photographs of hundreds of missing children into the Guali River in Honda, Colombia, as a symbolic act of hope and a plea for those who may have adopted them to come forward. The tragedy left many children separated from their families amidst the chaos. Martha Lucía López, whose 5-year-old son Sergio was lost in the eruption, recounted how she and her husband took refuge in a tree and a house while Sergio slept at home, believing they were far enough from the danger. They never saw him again. López later received fragmented information suggesting Sergio might have been at the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF) or adopted, but concrete contact has remained elusive. Organizations like the Armando Armero Foundation have documented 580 missing children, with 71 reportedly adopted, and have successfully located four alive through DNA testing. The foundation's director, Francisco González, stated that the children's disappearances occurred through various means, including adoption by civilians who found them in the aftermath. The ICBF, responsible for child protection, received at least 170 children from Armero, and records indicate adoption decisions were made by courts at the time. A declassified "red book" from the ICBF contains some records of ... download the app to read more