40,000 show up for tomato food fight
Revelers play with tomato pulp during the annual “tomatina” tomato fight fiesta in the village of Bunol, near Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012. Bunol’s town hall estimated more than 40,000 people, some from as far away as Japan and Australia, took up arms Wednesday with 100 tons of tomatoes in the yearly food fight known as the ‘Tomatina’ now in its 64th year. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
Tens of thousands of people have splatted each other with 120 tons of tomatoes during the annual ‘Tomatina’ battle, leaving the eastern Spanish town of Bunol in a sea of red mush.
Town hall estimates some 40,000 people, including many tourists, took part in Wednesday’s hour-long street bombardment, which has its roots in a food fight among kids back in 1945.
Participants — many wearing T-shirts, shorts and goggles — flopped around in the swamp of red pulp while they pelted each other with tomatoes dumped on them from five loaded trucks.
Portable showers were set up so revelers could shower afterward.
The town’s streets and walls are hosed down once the battle ends.
Reported by ALBERTO SAIZ of the Associated Press from BUNOL, Spain.
Revelers throw tomatoes during the annual “tomatina” tomato fight fiesta in the village of Bunol, near Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012. Bunol’s town hall estimated more than 40,000 people, some from as far away as Japan and Australia, took up arms Wednesday with 100 tons of tomatoes in the yearly food fight known as the ‘Tomatina’ now in its 64th year. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
Revelers play in tomato pulp during the annual “tomatina” tomato fight fiesta in the village of Bunol, near Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012
