At least 27 injured after exploding firework shoots into beach crowd near Benidorm

At least 27 injured after exploding firework shoots into beach crowd near Benidorm 'Real panic' broke out on the Spanish beach as the exploding rocket shot into the crowd At least 27 people have been injured with 14 taken to hospital after an exploding firework shot into a crowd on a beach in Spain. The rocket was let off over the sea, near Benidorm on the Costa Blanca, in the early hours of Sunday as part of a huge local celebration when it veered into the crowd lining the beach front at Altea. Emergency services scrambled to the scene to evacuate and treat the injured, with 14 rushed to hospital in Alicante, 11 of whom were treated in the Burns Unit of the General University Hospital, while a further 13 were rushed to the Altea health centre. One witness said: "What was supposed to be a night of partying ended in moments of real panic. The fires went straight to the area where we were on the beach and people started running. "Ambulances and emergency services went to the scene. There is talk of numerous wounded." Horrifying footage shows the 'peacock' rockets exploding over the ocean until one spirals out of control and directly into the crowd. A large white plume of smoke is seen while onlookers could be heard screaming in panic. The major display is a huge prestigious pyrotechnic festival in the local calendar, held annually in Altea with fireworks fired entirely from the sea using floating platforms and barges. This year, it was held in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Castell de l'Olla de Altea, with around 100,000 people, including locals and tourists, in attendance. Organisers, the Brotherhood of Castell de l'Olla, said emergency crews rushed to help the injured, reports the Daily Star. More details are yet to be confirmed.