Canary Islands horror as 'bus full of Brit tourists' plunges from cliff – at least 1 dead

One person has died and up to 20 people injured, some of them seriously, when a tourist bus reportedly full of British holidaymakers careered down a steep embankment on a popular island in the Canaries.

The horror accident happened at about 1.30pm on the island of La Gomera and the emergency services, including helicopters, are at the scene.

Many of the passengers were trapped and had to be released by the fire brigade, who had also secured the bus to prevent it from rolling further down the ravine. The bus has crashed on the picturesque island of La Gomera, where the road network is very narrow and high as it crosses the mountains. The 112 emergency service says the crash happened on the GM-2 in San Sebastian. The crash site is near a mountain tunnel and a hazardous hairpin bend high above the rocky terrain.

The vehicle has been described as a tourist bus, but it is not yet known if it was on an excursion or taking holidaymakers to their hotel. The nationalities of those involved have not yet been revealed, nor the extent of their injuries.

The bus careered off the road for reasons unknown, plunged down the embankment and came to rest on its side.

Several ambulances from the Canary Islands Emergency Service, a medical helicopter, a GES helicopter and police resources are operating at the scene.

A statement issued by the 112 service shortly after the crash confirmed that one person has died, three are gravely injured and another eleven have suffered moderate injuries. These numbers are expected to rise as more details emerge.

La Gomera is one of the prettiest Canary Islands, but it has a network of high and potentially dangerous roads. Tourists who visit the island say “it’s like taking your life in your hands” when crossing from one side to the other. San Sebastian is the most popular holiday hotspot on La Gomera.

According to initial reports, the driver lost control at a critical point on the road, causing the bus to cross the road and fall down the embankment.

The magnitude of the accident forced the immediate mobilisation of an unprecedented emergency device in the area. The 112 Canarias activated the helicopters of the Emergency and Rescue Group (GES) and an aerial medical unit to facilitate the evacuation of the most seriously injured to various hospitals.

The orography of the terrain has complicated the rescue work, forcing the Civil Protection, the Environment of the Cabildo de La Gomera and Volunteer Firefighters to secure the structure of the vehicle to prevent further displacements. The Civil Guard has cordoned off the area to allow air resources to land and guarantee the safety of the intervention teams.

Although the investigation by the Civil Traffic Guard is already underway, it is still too early to determine the exact causes of the bus leaving the road. The authorities are collecting testimonies from those occupants in a mild condition and analysing brake tracks on the asphalt.