The surrounding snowcapped volcanoes were postcard perfect. The 124,000 people who lived there, some 9,000 feet [2,700 m] up in the Andes Mountains, were going about their normal routines, unaware that this serene scene was about to be violently disturbed.
Ümberkaudsed lumiste tippudega vulkaanid olid piltilusad. 124 000 inimest, kes ligikaudu 2700 meetri kõrgusel Andides elasid, toimetasid oma igapäevaseid toimetusi ning nad ei osanud aimatagi, et miski võiks seda idülli rikkuda.