At least 50 people have been injured after several rockets unexpectedly ignited and exploded during the traditional opening of the patron saint festivities in the Navarra town of Noáin on Wednesday.
Three men were taken to the Hospital Universitario de Navarra with burns, while another 47 people were treated locally, mainly for ear pain, burns and other minor injuries.
The accident happened at around midday in the Plaza de los Fueros, as crowds gathered outside Noáin Town Hall for the chupinazo – the ceremonial launching of rockets marking the start of the town’s annual festivities in honour of its patron saint, San Miguel.
The first rockets were launched from the packed town hall balcony before several other pyrotechnics apparently ignited unexpectedly. Some were reported to have fired downwards towards the square, while others exploded on the balcony itself.
Around 50 people were on the balcony at the time, including approximately a dozen children, according to information provided by the town council to Spain’s state broadcaster RTVE. Those on the balcony included town councillors, invited guests and members of the children’s council.
Three men taken to hospital
Emergency services treated a total of 50 people following the explosions. Forty-seven were attended at Noáin’s health centre for injuries including ear pain and burns and did not require hospital treatment.
Three men, aged 41, 53 and 54, were transferred to the Hospital Universitario de Navarra with burns to their hands and feet and were undergoing medical assessment. El Diario Vasco reported that two of the three had a reserved prognosis.
One of those taken to hospital was a municipal multi-purpose services employee who had been involved in handling the rockets, according to Noáin’s councillor for Citizen Security, Luis Maya.
Three ambulances were mobilised, while firefighters, municipal police, Guardia Civil officers, Civil Protection personnel and local health workers were involved in the emergency response.
A doctor and nurse from the local health centre were already at the town hall after having been invited to the chupinazo to represent the medical centre, according to local media, allowing treatment to begin almost immediately.
A temporary treatment area was also established inside the town hall before being dismantled once the immediate emergency had been brought under control.
Rockets reportedly ignited simultaneously
Accounts of the precise sequence of events differ slightly, although officials and witnesses agree that several rockets intended to be fired individually ignited unexpectedly.
Luis Maya told the EFE news agency that after the first rocket had been launched, the municipal employee was holding the remaining rockets when the second was fired.
‘With so many people there, I don’t know whether it was an accident or someone being pushed, but all the rockets caught fire at once from the fuse and exploded on the Town Hall balcony, when the balcony was completely full,’ he said.
El Diario Vasco reported that the first two rockets had initially been launched without incident, but that sparks appeared to ignite the fuses of several waiting fireworks. Three reportedly fired downwards and exploded among people gathered in the Plaza de los Fueros, before several more – around five according to some witnesses – exploded on the crowded balcony.
The chupinazo itself was being carried out by a representative of the town’s pensioners’ club.
Television footage showed festival-goers, many wearing the traditional white clothing and red scarves associated with fiestas in Navarra, moving away quickly from the town hall as the explosions erupted.
Witnesses quoted by the EFE news agency described scenes of ‘great distress and moments of confusion’, with smoke and the noise of the explosions initially making it difficult for those on the balcony and in the square to understand what had happened.
Noáin mayor Mikel Navarro similarly told RTVE that there had been moments of ‘panic’.
Despite the number of people caught up in the incident, officials stressed that emergency personnel were already stationed nearby because of the festivities.
The president of the Navarra regional government, María Chivite, contacted the mayor following the accident and offered the regional administration’s assistance.
‘I have contacted the mayor to hear first-hand what happened, as well as to offer our support and the cooperation of the government of Navarra in whatever may be needed,’ Chivite said in a message on X, while wishing those injured a ‘speedy recovery’.
Noáin is situated close to Pamplona, and its annual five-day fiesta includes concerts, a procession and other events. Despite Wednesday’s accident, the remainder of the festivities was expected to continue as planned.
Enjoying the news from Spain in English? Add us as a preferred news source in Google.
Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter from Spain in English.
Aumentan a 31 los heridos, tres de ellos graves, en Noáin al explotar varios cohetes entre la multitud durante el chupinazo. https://t.co/T8rvHNNmfG pic.twitter.com/H4xOlWu4fa
— Diario de Navarra (@DiariodeNavarra) August 26, 2026
📸💥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
Mi deseo de pronto restablecimiento de los/as heridos/as en el cohete de inicio de fiestas en Noáin.
— María Chivite / ❤️ (@mavichina) August 26, 2026
Me he puesto en contacto con el alcalde para conocer de primera mano los hechos así como mostrar nuestro apoyo y colaboración @gob_na en todo lo que sea preciso.
Click here to get your business activity or services listed on our DIRECTORY.