One person has died and at least 14 are injured after a tourist bus plunged into a ravine on a popular island in the Canaries.
The accident happened at about 1.30pm and the emergency services, including helicopters, are at the scene on the picturesque island of La Gomera.
Many of the passengers were trapped and had to be released by the fire brigade who have also secured the bus to prevent it from rolling further down the ravine.
Three of those hurt are seriously injured, according to reports.
According to sources from the island administration, all those affected are foreign tourists.
The bus crashed 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 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 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 part of the island to the other side.
San Sebastian is the most popular holiday hotspot on La Gomera.
According to the first information, the driver of the vehicle lost control at a critical point on the road, which caused the bus to cross the road and end up falling 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, 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 that led the bus to leave the road.
The authorities are collecting testimonies from the occupants who are in mild condition and analysing the brake tracks on the asphalt.
