El Salvador: fireballs battle with the devil

Video. El Salvador: fireballs battle with the devil

Locals in the town of Nejapa in El Salvador have gathered, to hurl fireballs at one another in honour of a huge volcanic eruption in 1922 which forced all of the residents to abandon the town.

Locals in the town of Nejapa in El Salvador have gathered, to hurl fireballs at one another in honour of a huge volcanic eruption in 1922 which forced all of the residents to abandon the town.

Local churches and their worshippers have embraced the annual tradition. Urban legend says that the hot lava that flowed from the volcano was actually the local Christian Saint Jeronimo fighting the devil with balls of fire.

Authorities fear the festival might one day get out of hand because there are no rules, but despite the apparent dangers, few serious injuries have been reported.