Balandrau tragedy film moves audience at Manresa premiere

Over 250 people attended the screening of the movie documenting the fatal 2000 blizzard in the Ripollès mountains.

Generic image of a movie theater during the screening of a mountain-themed film.
IA

Generic image of a movie theater during the screening of a mountain-themed film.

The city of Manresa hosted an emotional evening this Friday with the official premiere of Balandrau, vent salvatge, a film depicting the tragic events in the Ripollès region in 2000.

The Bages Centre cinema was nearly full as over 250 spectators gathered to watch the recreation of the events from December 30, 2000. On that day, an exceptional blizzard trapped a group of hikers near the Balandrau peak, resulting in seven fatalities.

"They couldn't escape because the wind chased them."

Jordi Cruz i Serra · Meteorologist and author
Local actors Jan Buxaderas and Carles Gilabert joined meteorologist Jordi Cruz for a discussion after the film. Cruz explained that 25 years ago, weather models failed to predict the intensity of the wind, which reached speeds of 140 km/h.