The original seat of the region was destroyed on 13 November 1985, after an eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz Volcano produced lahars that buried the town and killed about 23,000 people. Approximately 31,000 people lived in the area at the time.
The original center of the region was ravaged on 13 November 1985, following a volcanic eruption by Nevado del Ruiz that produced mudslides that buried the town and caused the deaths of around 23,000 people. The area at the time housed approximately 31,000 residents.