02:30Hundreds flocked to Nejapa, El Salvador, for the 'Las Bolas de Fuego' (Balls of Fire) festival, now in its 102nd year, as blazing fireballs flew through the streets captivating locals and tourists alike.
Footage captured on Saturday shows the dramatic fireball fight while the audience cheered from the sidelines. Participants are seen hurling hand-sized fireballs at each other and dodging the returning flames.
"There was a lot of excitement, a lot of good adrenaline, it was super fun, I recommend it," a tourist said.
Despite the festival's highly dangerous premise, it has reportedly been conducted safely for over a decade, with minimal serious injuries recorded at the time of publication.
The 'Las Bolas de Fuego' festival, established in 1922, commemorates a volcanic eruption in 1658 that forced residents to abandon Nejapa. Legend states that patron saint San Jeronimo also battled the devil with fireballs to protect his town during the eruption.
Fight fire with fire! Hundreds commemorate volcanic eruption at 102nd edition of 'Las Bolas de Fuego' festival in Nejapa
Hundreds flocked to Nejapa, El Salvador, for the 'Las Bolas de Fuego' (Balls of Fire) festival, now in its 102nd year, as blazing fireballs flew through the streets captivating locals and tourists alike.
Footage captured on Saturday shows the dramatic fireball fight while the audience cheered from the sidelines. Participants are seen hurling hand-sized fireballs at each other and dodging the returning flames.
"There was a lot of excitement, a lot of good adrenaline, it was super fun, I recommend it," a tourist said.
Despite the festival's highly dangerous premise, it has reportedly been conducted safely for over a decade, with minimal serious injuries recorded at the time of publication.
The 'Las Bolas de Fuego' festival, established in 1922, commemorates a volcanic eruption in 1658 that forced residents to abandon Nejapa. Legend states that patron saint San Jeronimo also battled the devil with fireballs to protect his town during the eruption.
Hundreds flocked to Nejapa, El Salvador, for the 'Las Bolas de Fuego' (Balls of Fire) festival, now in its 102nd year, as blazing fireballs flew through the streets captivating locals and tourists alike.
Footage captured on Saturday shows the dramatic fireball fight while the audience cheered from the sidelines. Participants are seen hurling hand-sized fireballs at each other and dodging the returning flames.
"There was a lot of excitement, a lot of good adrenaline, it was super fun, I recommend it," a tourist said.
Despite the festival's highly dangerous premise, it has reportedly been conducted safely for over a decade, with minimal serious injuries recorded at the time of publication.
The 'Las Bolas de Fuego' festival, established in 1922, commemorates a volcanic eruption in 1658 that forced residents to abandon Nejapa. Legend states that patron saint San Jeronimo also battled the devil with fireballs to protect his town during the eruption.