Thousands of individuals flocked to Buñol on Wednesday for the annual La Tomatina event, transforming the small Spanish town into a sea of red by utilizing approximately 165 tonnes of ripe tomatoes. The chaotic tomato battle lasted for more than an hour in the town near València, with structures shielded by tarps in anticipation of the festivities.
Prior to the festival, a man was pictured covering a house with a tarp to shield it from flying tomatoes, a tradition that dates back to a food skirmish in 1945. This year, over 20,000 participants are anticipated to join the event, with 40% of attendees in the past three years reported to be international tourists by the Spanish EFE news agency.
Non-local visitors are required to purchase a 15 euro ticket and adhere to the primary rule of squashing the tomatoes before throwing them to prevent injuries. Despite this rule, many participants opt to wear swimming goggles and earplugs for added protection during the lively event.