A recent heavy rainstorm in Tenerife caused rocks to crash down onto vehicles along a dangerous road, sparking outrage from a local official. Startling images of the aftermath show two cars severely damaged on the treacherous TF-82 route that connects Tamaimo and Santiago del Teide on the Spanish island.
Despite the severity of the crash, the two drivers involved narrowly escaped disaster, with reports indicating they were just centimeters away from harm. One car’s rear end was completely flattened by the impact, while the other vehicle suffered damage to the front, with a large boulder perched precariously above the right headlight.
Photos also captured debris scattered across the road, making it nearly impassable, with distant figures providing scale to the size of the rocks. The TF-82 route, known as one of the island’s most hazardous, has been the site of multiple incidents, prompting strong criticism from Emilio Navarro, the mayor of Santiago del Teide, who has long been vocal about the dangers posed by the road.
Motorists navigating the area faced increased risks due to the proximity of a steep rock face alongside the roadway, requiring intervention from police and maintenance crews to clear the debris. This latest incident is not the first to impact the perilous TF-82 route, as a similar event led to its closure just a month before.
In a separate incident 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 between Bajamar and Punta del Hidalgo. Authorities urged caution due to potential traffic disruptions during the investigation.
Landslides, according to the WHO, occur when masses of soil or debris move downhill due to natural or human-induced factors, with mudslides and debris flows being common variations. The Canary Islands, a popular holiday spot for Brits, attracted nearly 18 million visitors in 2024, with British tourists constituting a significant portion, making Tenerife the most favored destination for both international and domestic travelers.