Thousands of individuals flocked to Buñol on Wednesday to partake in the annual La Tomatina festival, transforming the quaint Spanish town into a sea of red using approximately 165 tonnes of overripe tomatoes. The chaotic tomato battle lasted for over an hour in the vicinity of València, with buildings shielded by tarps in anticipation of the event.
The tradition, originating from a food fight in 1945, saw a man covering a house with a tarp to safeguard it from the tomato onslaught. This year, over 20,000 participants were anticipated, with 40% of attendees in the previous three years identified as international tourists, as per reports from the Spanish EFE news agency.
Non-local visitors paid 15 euros to join the festivity and were reminded of the primary rule: squash the tomatoes before tossing them to prevent injuries. Despite this guideline, many attendees opted for additional protection such as swimming goggles and earplugs.
The event featured lively scenes of people engaging in tomato warfare on the streets, with some even throwing tomatoes from trucks onto the crowd below. Participants could be seen donning goggles, sitting amidst the tomato-covered streets, and reveling in the tomato-filled atmosphere.