A fireworks shell strayed off course and struck spectators during the 40th anniversary of the Castell de l’Olla fireworks display in Altea, leaving 27 people injured.
The incident occurred on Saturday night. 8th August, when a stray pyrotechnic shell went further than expected and landed on the beach area where crowds had gathered. An estimated 100,000 spectators were watching the show, which was launched from floating platforms in the sea and featured over 1,600 kilograms of gunpowder managed by Pirotecnia Vulcano.
According to organisers and emergency services, 14 people were initially taken to the IMED hospital. Of those, 11 were subsequently transferred to the specialist burns unit at the Doctor Balmis General University Hospital in Alicante due to the severity of their burn injuries.
Meanwhile, 13 people received medical treatment at the Altea health centre for minor injuries and contusions before being discharged. Emergency medical teams from the regional health authorities also coordinated additional ambulance transfers from the Altea clinic, including a 55-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman who were taken to the Marina Baixa Hospital in Villajoyosa with burns, and a 19-year-old man who was moved to IMED for contusions.
The organisers, the Cofradía del Castell de l’Olla, expressed deep regret over the accident, extended their support to all those affected, and expressed gratitude to the security and emergency health services for their swift intervention and care.
