At least 50 people were injured, including three taken to hospital with burns, on Wednesday after fireworks exploded at the start of an annual fiesta in northern Spain, authorities said.
The incident happened around noon in Noáin when a rocket was fired from the town hall balcony to launch the festival dedicated to St Michael, the town’s patron saint.
Officials said it appeared that several rockets due to be launched were ignited by sparks from the first firework, causing several to fire downwards and explode among the crowd gathered in the square below.
📸💥Vídeo | Cohetes se descontrolan en el chupinazo de Noáin y dejan varios heridos. Lea la información actualizada: https://t.co/FrrwSy0Xxi pic.twitter.com/mBORkouVDk
— Diario de Noticias (@NoticiasNavarra) August 26, 2026
Three men aged 41, 53 and 54 were treated for burns at hospital, the regional government’s health department said.
Forty-seven people were treated at Noain’s health centre, mainly for ear pain, burns and other injuries. None required hospital treatment.
Images broadcast on Spanish television showed revellers, many dressed in traditional white clothing with red scarves, moving away from the town hall as the fireworks exploded.
The annual fiesta in the town near Pamplona lasts five days and feature events including a procession, communal meals and concerts. The celebrations continued as planned despite the injuries.
