Torrential rain triggered a dangerous incident in Tenerife as rocks crashed into vehicles on the treacherous TF-82 route, causing severe damage. Shocking images captured the aftermath, showing two cars demolished on the clifftop road connecting Tamaimo and Santiago del Teide in the popular Spanish island destination.
Two drivers involved in the crash narrowly escaped disaster, with reports indicating they were just centimeters away from harm but fortunately came out unscathed. One car’s back was completely crushed, while another vehicle was struck on the bonnet, still carrying a boulder above the right headlight.
The scene depicted rubble scattered across the road, making it impassable, with distant figures providing scale to the massive rocks. The TF-82 route has been identified as one of the most perilous on the island, prompting strong criticism from Emilio Navarro, the mayor of Santiago del Teide, who lamented the lack of action despite repeated warnings about the dangers.
Motorists navigating the route faced heightened risks due to the adjacent sheer rock face, necessitating the intervention of police and maintenance teams for the cleanup. This was not the first time the TF-82 had been affected, as a similar incident had led to the road’s closure just a month before.
In a separate event in Tenerife last April, fifteen locals were evacuated following a landslide in the island’s northeast, where a large rock crashed onto a property in La Laguna along the TF-13 road. Authorities managed the situation, cautioning people about traffic delays during investigations.
Landslides, like the one in Tenerife, are characterized by large masses of soil or debris moving down slopes due to natural or human-induced factors. The Canary Islands, a beloved holiday destination for Brits, attracted nearly 18 million visitors in 2024, with Tenerife being the most popular spot, drawing millions of international and domestic tourists.
British holidaymakers accounted for a significant portion of visitors to the Canaries, with over 6.3 million UK tourists visiting the islands. Tenerife alone welcomed more than 6.2 million international visitors and over 900,000 domestic holidaymakers, solidifying its status as a top tourist destination.