An accident on the closing night of Tona’s basic festival in Barcelona province sent two girls, aged 12 and 14, to hospital with fractures after a fairground attraction malfunctioned. Just before midnight on 5 August 2026, a door on a spinning, inclined platform unexpectedly opened while the ride was in motion. Municipal sources cited by EFE said nine people were injured, eight of them minors. Regió7 also reported nine injuries, while El Caso said the Mossos d’Esquadra were investigating.
Emergency services took the two most seriously affected girls to Vic Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Three others with minor injuries were also taken to the same hospital, while the remaining victims were treated at the scene for bruises and contusions. El Caso reported that several young passengers were thrown from the attraction. Most of those hurt were children attending the festivities on the event’s last day.
Authorities sealed off the attraction pending a technical inspection to determine the cause of the malfunction. The police investigation is examining how the ride’s safety door opened during operation. The reports identify no mechanical cause; the inspection and investigation are basic to establishing how the failure occurred.
European amusement-ride safety practice references EN 13814 and ISO 17842, which cover ride design and manufacture, as well as operation, inspection and maintenance. These technical frameworks do not replace local authorization or site-specific safety checks. Inspection and maintenance records are among the documents relevant to assessing a ride’s condition, but the standards alone do not establish the cause of the Tona accident.
While such accidents are rare, they highlight ongoing concerns about the oversight and maintenance of mobile attractions in Spain. Issues around emergency care and the handling of accident victims have also been discussed in other regions, including when patients faced extended stays in Madrid’s Puerta de Hierro hospital due to systemic challenges.
Spain’s regional festivals often feature temporary amusement rides subject to local safety checks and regulations. Municipalities coordinate event permissions and safety procedures, while technical standards guide ride operation and maintenance. After incidents like the one in Tona, authorities may review protocols or add checks for future events. Families attending festivals are advised to follow operator instructions and observe visible safety measures. The investigation in Tona is ongoing, and the attraction will remain closed until authorities review the findings and implement necessary measures.
