The Armero Tragedy occurred on November 13, 1985, when the Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupted in Colombia, causing a massive lahar (volcanic mudflow) that devastated the town of Armero. The eruption melted the volcano's snowcap, sending fast-moving mudflows down its slopes, burying the town under several meters of mud and debris. This disaster resulted in the deaths of approximately 23,000 people, making it one of the deadliest volcanic events in history. The high death toll was partly due to inadequate preparedness and lack of timely evacuation. The tragedy highlighted the importance of disaster preparedness and early warning systems, significantly impacting Colombia's approach to managing natural disasters.