A recent heavy rainstorm triggered rockfalls onto vehicles traveling along a precarious road in Tenerife, causing significant damage and raising concerns among local officials. Startling images captured the aftermath of the incident on the TF-82 route, linking Tamaimo and Santiago del Teide on the Spanish island.
Despite the severity of the crash, the two drivers involved narrowly escaped harm, with reports indicating they were mere centimeters away from a potentially tragic outcome. The photographs depict a red car completely crushed at the rear from the impact, while a white vehicle sustained damage to its bonnet with a large boulder perched precariously on the front.
The debris strewn across the road in the images highlights the hazardous conditions faced by motorists on this particular route. Emilio Navarro, the mayor of Santiago del Teide, took to social media to express frustration over the recurring incidents, emphasizing that warnings about the route’s dangers had been issued repeatedly.
Authorities, including the police and maintenance crews, swiftly responded to the scene to address the aftermath of the rockfall and ensure the safety of travelers. This incident is not the first time the treacherous TF-82 route has been affected, as it was temporarily closed just a month prior due to a similar occurrence.
In a separate incident last April, a landslide in Tenerife’s north-east led to the evacuation of fifteen locals after a large rock crashed onto a property in La Laguna. Such incidents serve as a reminder of the inherent risks posed by natural phenomena like landslides in the region.
Tenerife, a popular holiday destination for Brits, attracted nearly 18 million visitors in 2024, comprising a mix of international and domestic tourists. British travelers accounted for a significant portion of these visitors, with over 6.3 million UK tourists visiting the Canary Islands, particularly Tenerife, as the preferred choice for many international and domestic holidaymakers.