At least 50 injured after fireworks ‘explode into crowd’ at packed festival in Spain as panicked crowd flees

AT least 50 people have been injured after multiple fireworks exploded into a packed square in Spain. At around midday, horror blasts suddenly rocked through the Plaza de los Fueros sending revelers fleeing in fear. Multiple rockets detonated across the town square Credit: NavarraTV/ X Dramatic footage shows people running from the blasts Credit: NavarraTV/ X Dozens of people had gathered in Noáin to celebrate the start of the town’s annual patron saint festivities when the panic unfolded. A municipal employee had been cradling a bundle of fireworks on the town hall balcony when all of them suddenly exploded, according to Luis Maya, Councilor for Citizen Security. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Maya said: “Among so many people, I don’t know if it was due to carelessness or a shove , but all the rockets ignited at once with their fuses.” At least three rogue fireworks ricocheted into the crowd while others exploded on the Town Hall balcony. Shocking footage shows smoke pouring out of a building while large crowds – including children – run for cover. Firefighters, police officers and two ambulances raced to the scene to treat the injured. Three men in their 40s and 50s have been rushed to the University Hospital of Navarra with burns to their hands and feet. One of the three men – aged 41, 53 and 54 – was the employee carrying the fireworks on the balcony. Most read in The Sun Children were among the injured as explosions rocked the busy Spanish plaza Credit: NavarraTV/ X Ambulances hauled off three people with burns – and 47 more went to a local health centre Credit: NavarraTV/ X Noain health centre has also treated 47 people with minor burns, bruises and earache, according to news outlet El Mundo. A young girl was among those transferred to the Noain health center. Eyewitnesses told local papers that for several seconds the only thing they could see was smoke as the roar of rockets deafened their ears. Dramatic photos show children sprinting through the streets while covering their ears. The town’s mayor Mikel Navarro told Spanish news site Cope: “It was scary, really scary. The first rocket went off normally, but the second one got out of control.” “We had to set up a small field hospital to treat all the injured,” he added. The cause of the blast is still unknown, and the Civil Guard have launched a probe into the incident. Initial investigations suggest that the first two rockets firing off had set ablaze the stash of remaining fireworks. The mayor praised the rapid response of the emergency crews and the City Council thanked them for their for their “quick and effective action”. Navarro confirmed: “It now seems that everything is under control, and we hope the festivities can continue as normal, which is what we want.” The fireworks display was the first in a series of celebrations in honour of San Miguel, the patron saint of Noain. Held every year, the festivities run from August 26 to August 30. Comment now