A British pensioner has been killed after a tourist bus taking holidaymakers to the airport plunged 30ft into a ravine on the Canary Island of La Gomera, leaving dozens more injured.
The crash happened at about 1.30pm on the GM-2 near San Sebastian, with emergency services including helicopters scrambling to the scene.
Passengers were left trapped inside the wreckage and had to be freed by firefighters, who also secured the bus to stop it sliding further down the ravine.
The vehicle was carrying 28 British tourists and a driver at the time of the crash.
Reports claim a brake failure may have been to blame for the crash.
A spokesperson for the Civil Guard told the Daily Mail that a 77-year-old man died and at least 27 people were injured.
Health officials said in an update that four people were critically injured.
Two men -aged 73 and 42 – were airlifted to hospital, while two people were taken by ambulance to the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Hospital.
According to tour operator Holiday Property Bond, the group of tourists – understood to be mostly Brits – were being transported to the airport to return home at the time of the accident.
The firm said in a statement: ‘The Holiday Property Bond is aware of a serious coach incident on the island of La Gomera in the Canary Islands today involving some of our Bondholders and guests. The coach was transferring holidaymakers to the airport, to return home.
‘Our immediate focus is on the safety and wellbeing of everyone affected. We recognise this is an extremely distressing situation for those involved, as well as for their families and loved ones, and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.’
The bus came off a narrow mountain road near a tunnel and a sharp hairpin bend high above rocky terrain.
Dramatic images show the crumpled vehicle laying on its side after plunging down the slope.
Several ambulances from the Canary Islands Emergency Service, a medical helicopter, a GES helicopter and police resources were operating at the scene.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has said her thoughts are with those affected by the ‘tragic’ bus crash in the Canary Islands and the Foreign Office is ready to support the British tourists involved and their families.
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.
