Dozens of people have been injured in the annual ‘exploding hammer’ festival in Mexico.

The event, which takes place every February, involves people attaching a mix of sulpher and chlorate to the ends of sledge hammers.

They they smash the hammers against rail beams, making the substance explode and send up massive clouds of smoke.


Some of the participants are flung backwards with the force.

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This year, one man hurt his leg in the blast and had to be carried off on a stretcher.

Others were less seriously injured, bringing the total to 43 hurt yesterday.

The small town of San Juan de la Vega is famous for the festival, which is dedicated to St John the Baptist.



According to legend, the town’s namesake San Juan de la Vega was victim of a theft from bandits who took his gold, according to Ruptly.

The festival is held every February (Picture: Ruptly)

The exploding hammers send up clouds of smoke (Picture: Ruptly)

St John the Baptist helped get it back and became a Mexican ‘Robin Hood’.

This year, over 6,000 people attended the festival including spectators.

Over 100 police officers were present to oversee it, as well as ambulance workers on hand in case of emergency.

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