Dramatic footage has captured the moment British holidaymakers were trapped inside a sinking minibus during a severe storm in Tenerife. The vehicle, carrying five tourists believed to be from the UK, became stranded in floodwater in Puerto de la Cruz on the night of the incident.
In the video, a woman can be seen climbing onto the roof of the minibus, crying out for help. An Italian onlooker attempted to calm her, assuring her that police were on their way. The driver helped three tourists exit through the sunroof, while two women had to be rescued by firefighters who lowered a ladder from a bridge above.
The group were on a road near the town's famous Botanical Gardens when they became trapped. All were rescued unharmed, with one woman seen vaping as she waited to be lifted to safety. The incident occurred amid a rare red weather warning for torrential rain issued by Spanish weather agency Aemet, which warned of intense gusts, poor visibility, and flooding.
Storm Therese has battered the Canary Islands for several days, causing widespread devastation including burst dams, collapsed roads, flight cancellations, and stranded residents. Emergency responders have dealt with nearly 2,000 incidents since the storm began last Wednesday. A specialist armed forces unit has been mobilised in Gran Canaria and Tenerife to assist with the aftermath.
