During these festivities, hundreds of daring runners, wearing a white shirt or t-shirt and a red scarf, try every morning at 08:00 (06:00 GMT) to get as close as possible to six fighting bulls during a 850 meter race through the narrow cobbled streets of the city.

These races end in the arenas where these bulls are put to death in bullfights later in the day.

During Monday's run, which lasted three minutes and 12 seconds, the six bulls split into several groups, making their trajectory unpredictable and increasing the danger for runners.

View of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, ​​northern Spain, July 11, 2022 JOSE JORDAN AFP

According to images from television, which broadcasts these races live, one of the runners was thrown into the air several times by one of the bulls.

A 29-year-old Spaniard was gored on the course in the knee while another 29-year-old Spaniard and a 25-year-old American were gored in the bullring in the groin and leg respectively. regional authorities said in a statement, citing minor injuries.

Three other participants had to be transferred to hospital for other types of injuries.

Immortalized in 1926 by Ernest Hemingway in his novel "The Sun Also Rises", the San Fermin celebrations attract tourists from all over the world.

The last two editions had to be canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which had not happened since the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939).

The release of bulls ("encierros") each year cause dozens of injuries and sometimes deaths.

Since 1911, when data began to be compiled, at least 16 runners have died.

The last death dates back to 2009 when a bull gored a 27-year-old Spaniard, whose parents laid a bouquet of flowers in his honor on the course on Sunday, on the thirteenth anniversary of his death.

© 2022 AFP