Thousands of individuals flocked to Buñol on Wednesday for the yearly La Tomatina festival, transforming the small Spanish town into a sea of red with approximately 165 tonnes of ripe tomatoes. The chaotic tomato battle lasted over an hour in the vicinity of València, with buildings shielded by tarps in anticipation of the event.
A man was pictured covering a house with a tarp to safeguard it from flying tomatoes before the festival, which dates back to a food fight in 1945. This year, over 20,000 participants are expected to join in, with reports from the Spanish EFE news agency revealing that 40 percent of attendees in the last three years have been international tourists.
Non-local visitors pay 15 euros for entry, with the primary rule being to crush the tomatoes before throwing them to prevent injuries. Despite this, many attendees opt for added protection by donning swimming goggles and earplugs.
