Biescas flood anniversary: survivors reflect on 30 years of loss

On August 7, 1996 a sudden torrent swept through the Las Nieves camping in Biescas, Huesca, Spain, killing 87 people and injuring more than 180. Thirty years later, survivors recall the disaster and how they have learned to live with the enduring pain.

Sergio Murillo, who was 16 when the flood claimed his parents and two siblings, says, "Se aprende a vivir con él. No puedes pretender que desaparezcan las experiencias que te han modelado y las que hacen ser quién eres." He credits the support of his extended family and the limited psychological help available at the time, noting that protocols for immediate victim assistance were still in their infancy.

The anniversary highlights the long‑term emotional scars left by the tragedy and the importance of community and mental‑health resources for disaster victims.