Six people were gored, three seriously, and several others were injured by stampeding bulls in Pamplona today duringthe first day of the internationally renowned San Fermin Fiesta.
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Revellers at the Pamplona festival
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Six bulls ran through Pamplona’s crowded cobblestone streets in a five-minute dash to the arena.
During the run, the bulls separated out instead of staying in a pack, making for a dangerous run as they lost their way and frequently charged the crowd standing on the sidelines or running ahead of the bulls.
Those hurt include anAmerican woman, who fell in front of a bull and suffered a deep gore wound to her right thigh.
Some runners slipped on the cobblestones and fell in front of the bulls, suffering minor injuries from the flying hooves or the weight of the stumbling bulls.
The crowded run marked the start of the eight-day festival in this northern city.
The runs, or encierros, draw thousands of people from around the world.
The centuries-old festival, which features a non-stop street party, became internationally famous following the 1926 publication of Ernest Hemingway's novel, The Sun Also Rises.
Since record-keeping began in 1924, 13 runners have died and more than 200 have been injured in the bull runs.
The last fatality was an American in 1995, whose death was the first since 1980.