A new tragedy has cast a shadow over the Bayonne Festival. According to local authorities, a person went missing after falling into the Adour River on Thursday night. The incident occurred around 2:45 a.m. near the Saint-Frédéric Bridge, about a one-kilometer walk from the official festival grounds. The Pyrénées-Atlantiques prefecture announced that the Bayonne prosecutor's office had opened an investigation into a "disturbing disappearance." A search was quickly launched, involving two teams of divers, a fireboat, and drones. However, the rising tide and strong currents complicated the operation.
An event still under high surveillance
Each year, the Bayonne Festival brings together up to a million people in the streets of the Basque city, becoming one of the largest popular events in Europe. For this 2025 edition, a significant security presence has been deployed, with a thousand police officers and emergency workers mobilized on site. Despite this, serious incidents continue to tarnish the image of this festive gathering. The municipality has recently sought to limit attendance at the event, following two deaths during previous editions. In 2024, a man was killed following an altercation near the bus station. The previous year, a city center resident was killed after protesting against uncivil behavior outside his home. The fate of the person who disappeared in the Adour River remains uncertain for the time being, and the search continues. This latest episode serves as a further reminder of the risks that can result from nighttime disturbances surrounding major popular festivals.
