Why couldn't they save Omayra Sánchez?

Answer 1

From an American Perspective:

Apparently they where too late.Also you have to remember it was in a foreign country, but personally speaking they could have saved her I know they could have ,to me they just really didn't care because if they did they would have tried everything in there power and tried vert hard the first day not til the 2nd almost 3rd day . In america if that had happen you already know the American people would have saved the child less than 24 hours.

From a Colombian Perspective:

Omayra Sánchez was caught in debris, concrete, and mud. The filthy water reached until Omayra's neck and she could not move. The people tried all they could to save her - using a pumping unit to eliminate the water factor, using ropes to pull her out,etc.- but all were ineffective. You have to remember another factor, the other people. The Nevado del Ruiz eruption caused the deaths of more than 23,000 people. How could you save them, including Omayra, under 24 hours? The lahar caused from the eruption clogged the path for the rescue team to reach the people in time, which did not give enough time for the rescuers to come to Omayra with the right supplies. The only way for Omayra to be rescued was amputating her legs, but if they amputated her legs they would not have the supplies for the surgery to be fulfilled and she would eventually die.

Answer 2

Rescue efforts were hindered by the difficult access to the site, lack of proper equipment to reach and extract her, as well as a delay in coordinating the rescue operation. Furthermore, Omayra was trapped in freezing water for over 60 hours, leading to hypothermia and infection, which ultimately contributed to her death.