A bout of heavy rain sent boulders careering into cars on a dangerous road in Tenerife, in a horrifying incident that prompted an outcry from a local mayor. Shocking images of the aftermath show two vehicles lying decimated on the cliffside TF-82 road, linking Tamaimo and Santiago del Teide, on the Spanish island hotspot.

A seriously close shave for the two motorists involved in the terrifying accident, they were reportedly just centimetres from peril, but, unlike the vehicles, they thankfully emerged unscathed. In the photos, the rear of a red car has been completely caved in by the impact, while a white vehicle has been struck on the bonnet, with a boulder still sitting on the front, just above the right headlight. A third image shows debris scattered across a section of road that appears impassable, with two people in the background offering a sense of the boulder's scale.

Known as one of the island's most high-risk roads, the continued incidents led to a social media outburst from Emilio Navarro, the mayor of Santiago del Teide, who shared photos and claimed they had been "warning for years" about the risks.

Emilio said: "We have been warning for years about the danger on the TF-82, with formal requests to the Tenerife Cabildo. Today we have yet another rockfall. The question is simple: what more has to happen before action is taken?"

Drivers using the route, attended by police and maintenance crews from the Cabildo (Island Council of Tenerife) for the clean-up after the incident, face increased peril due to a vertical rock face that borders certain sections.

It wouldn't be the first time the hazardous TF-82 has been impacted, as the road was closed only one month prior, following a similar incident.

In another disaster that also occurred in Tenerife in April last year, fifteen residents were evacuated after a landslide in the island's north-east, with Spanish media reporting that a large rock fell on a home.

It took place in La Laguna along the TF-13 road, between Bajamar and Punta del Hidalgo. Police and other agencies attended the scene, with people cautioned by the council of traffic delays during the investigation.

According to the WHO, landslides "occur when large masses of soil, rocks or debris move down a slope due to a natural phenomenon or human activity. Mudslides or debris flows are also a common type of fast-moving landslide."

A hugely popular holiday destination for Brits, the Canary Islands drew in nearly 18 million visitors in 2024, both international and national tourists, reports Canarian Weekly.

Brits accounted for the largest swathe of visitors to the Canaries, representing more than 40 percent of all international arrivals, some 6.3 million UK tourists.

Tenerife was the most popular destination, bringing in more than 6.2 million international tourists and more than 900,000 domestic travellers.