The Tarragona City Council yesterday took stock of Santa Tecla and gave an outstanding rating to ten consecutive days of celebrations, including two weekends, with many of the 400 events being sold out. Although public attendance has exceeded expectations, making Santa Tecla 2023 one of the largest in history, no serious incidents have been recorded in streets and squares.
The only serious accident occurred precisely at the last festive event, on Sunday night. After the correfoc, in the farewell fireworks, launched by the renowned Martí pyrotechnics, from Burriana (Castellón), one of the fireworks detached for reasons that are being investigated and seriously injured a woman who was in the audience. The victim, admitted to the Joan XXIII hospital, suffers burns to her face, but she is not afraid for her life, as confirmed by municipal sources. Another of the attendees suffered minor injuries, but after receiving medical attention he was released. “There are security measures that are strictly followed,” highlighted Sandra Ramos (PSC), Festival councilor.
“This accident aside, the parties have been a great success. “There have not been any serious incidents beyond the normal ones that take place when there are many people in any space,” he added.
Among the most positive aspects, the new stage in the Francolí park, with the record-breaking concert by The Tyets, with almost 13,000 spectators.
The municipal government maintains that Santa Tecla does not have any overcrowding problem. “There are other things that worry us more, like 12-year-old children with alcohol comas,” Ramos responded. “We have a successful party model, designed for the people of Tarragona. With security measures but with freedom,” said the mayor. “Now we will evaluate and see the margins for improvement, there always are, but the development of the festival has been fantastic, we have become a reference festival at a national level, not just in Tarragona,” she concluded.
