130 tonnes of tomatoes turn town red

25 August 2004

BUNOL – Tomatina, the traditional tomato-throwing festival, broke all records this year with participants pelting each other with 130 tonnes of the vegetable, organisers said Wednesday.

The number of visitors also broke previous records, with 40,000 taking part in the strange ritual in this town near Valencia.

For one hour, people pelt each other with tonnes of tomatoes until the village is red with the vegetable.

Tourists from across the world travelled to Bunol to take part in the festival of Tomatina with locals, organisers said.

Security was upped this year from eight local police officers to five patrol cars and a helicopter.

Six lorries delivered the tomatoes to the main square for the throwers to take part in the hour-long battle.

They were later sprayed clean with water by local people who helped to clear up.

Despite a horn calling an end to the battle, some throwers carried on pelting each other.
 
[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news