In a terrifying turn of events, a firework veered off course and into a crowd of people at an event in Alicante.
Approximately 27 people were injured, with 14 reportedly taken to hospital, 11 of whom were admitted to the Burn Unit.
The scenes unfolded at speed at the Castell de l’Olla fireworks display, as the famous annual pyrotechnic festival marked its 40th anniversary this Sunday.
Going big with the celebrations, 1,500 kilos of gunpowder were used.
An estimated 100,000 people flocked to the beach in Benidorm on Spain’s Costa Blanca in the early hours for what they hoped would be a spectacular display over the sea.
And everything was going to plan until one firework went rogue, crashing significantly off track and straight towards sitting spectators.
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Video footage on social media captured the shrieks and screams as it erupted above them, people ducking for cover and abandoning their chairs as the sparks flew.
As those with serious burns were transported to the General University Hospital of Alicante, several others were treated at the Altea Health Centre.
Speaking afterwards, one shaken witness recalled: ‘What was supposed to be a night of partying ended in moments of real panic.’
‘The fireworks went straight towards the area where we were on the beach, and people started running,’ they added.
‘Ambulances and emergency services went to the scene. There is talk of numerous wounded.’
Organisers Brotherhood of Castell de l’Olla later confirmed that paramedics responded quickly to those injured.
They met at the Town Hall with the event’s safety commissioners, along with the pyrotechnics managers, to analyse what happened.
Major of Altea, Diego Zaragozí, also explained that some people were injured amid the rush of everyone fleeing the scene in a frenzy.
Zaragozí added that the malfunction occurred during one of the firework’s launches from its platform, resulting in the shell reaching the spectators instead of exploding over the water.
A full investigation is to be carried out to determine exactly what went wrong.
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