Thousands of individuals flocked to Buñol on Wednesday to participate in the annual La Tomatina food fight event, transforming the small Spanish town into a sea of red with around 165 tonnes of overripe tomatoes. The chaotic tomato battle lasted for over an hour in the town located near València, where buildings were shielded with tarps in preparation for the festivities.
The tradition, which dates back to a food fight in 1945, attracted over 20,000 participants this year, with approximately 40% of attendees in the past three years being tourists from outside Spain, as reported by the Spanish EFE news agency.
Non-local visitors paid 15 euros for entry, with the primary safety rule being to squash tomatoes before throwing them to prevent injuries. Despite this rule, many participants opted to wear swimming goggles and earplugs for added protection during the exhilarating tomato showdown on the streets.