Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Spanish town turns red in tomato fight

(AP) BUNOL, Spain - 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.

Watch video of Spain's "Tomatina" fight in 2011

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.

 A reveler jumps on tomato pulp while participating in the annual Tomatina festival on August 29, 2012 in Bunol, Spain.

A reveler jumps on tomato pulp while participating in the annual Tomatina festival on August 29, 2012 in Bunol, Spain.

(Credit: Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)