During the running of the bulls at the San Fermín festival in Spain, 14 people were injured

During the traditional running of the bulls at the San Fermín festival in Pamplona, Spain, 14 people were injured. One participant suffered a severe goring to the face, reports UNN citing RTVE and the Associated Press.

The incident occurred on the morning of July 11 during the fifth of the festival's eight bull runs. That day, six bulls from the José Escolar Gil ranch ran through the narrow streets of the city, accompanied by oxen.

Details

The run lasted approximately two minutes and 36 seconds. Initially, the animals moved as a tight group, but later the herd stretched out, and one of the bulls broke ahead and crashed into a crowd of people. Due to the large number of participants on the route, many people lost their footing and fell to the ground.

The most seriously injured was a 30-year-old man from Alicante. He suffered a penetrating goring to the face, fractures of the lower jaw, and other injuries. The victim underwent surgery. As of July 13, he remained in the hospital in serious condition.

Another 13 participants sustained bruises, fractures, and injuries to the head, chest, arms, and legs. Some of the injured were taken to the University Hospital of Navarre, while others received assistance on site.

Note that initially, the Associated Press reported 13 injured: one person gored and another 12 who required medical attention. Later, RTVE, citing the medical service, clarified that a total of 14 participants were injured.

Context

The San Fermín festival is held annually in Pamplona from July 6 to July 14. The bull runs take place every morning from July 7 to July 14 at 8:00 AM. The 848.6-meter route runs through the historic city center and ends at the bullring. Participants typically cover it in about two to three minutes.

During the run, six fighting bulls, accompanied by oxen, move through the narrow streets of Pamplona, while participants try to run in front of or alongside the animals. Most injuries are caused by falls, collisions between people, and impacts against barriers, although gorings are also recorded every year.

As a result of the first seven runs of the 2026 festival, nearly 60 people were injured, three of whom were gored. During the seventh run on July 13, another eight participants were injured, but no gorings were recorded. The festival's final run is scheduled for July 14.

According to official city government statistics, 16 people have died in the entire documented history of the runs. The last fatality occurred on July 10, 2009, when 27-year-old Daniel Jimeno Romero suffered a fatal goring to the neck.

The festival gained worldwide fame after the publication of the novel "The Sun Also Rises" by American writer Ernest Hemingway. The book was published in 1926, so this year's festival takes place in the centenary year of the novel.

Recall

In July 2025, a bull gored a man at a festival in Spain, and seven others sustained other injuries.