Thousands of individuals flocked to Buñol on Wednesday for the annual La Tomatina festival, transforming the small Spanish town into a sea of red using around 165 tonnes of overripe tomatoes. The chaotic tomato battle lasted for over an hour in the town near València, with buildings shielded by tarps in preparation for the event.
The origins of the festival can be traced back to a food fight in 1945. More than 20,000 participants were expected to join this year, with reports indicating that 40 percent of attendees in the past three years have been international tourists. Non-local visitors pay 15 euros to join the festivities, with the primary safety rule being to crush the tomatoes before throwing them to prevent injuries. Many attendees opt to wear swimming goggles and earplugs for added protection during the tomato mayhem.