Thousands of individuals flocked to Buñol on Wednesday to partake in the yearly La Tomatina food battle, where they dyed the quaint Spanish town red using around 165 tons of ripe tomatoes. The chaotic skirmish lasted for more than an hour in the vicinity of València, with structures shielded by tarps in anticipation of the event. The tradition, which dates back to a tomato war in 1945, saw a man covering a residence with a tarp to shield it from airborne tomatoes.

This year, over 20,000 people are anticipated to join the festivities, with EFE news agency disclosing that 40% of attendees in the past three years were international tourists. Non-local participants are required to 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 to wear swimming goggles and earplugs for added safety during the event.