The Canary Islands government has declared a state of emergency after a bus carrying British passengers plunged into a ravine in La Gomera.

Officials said: “The Government of the Canary Islands, through the Directorate General of Emergencies, has declared a state of alert due to a multiple-victim accident on La Gomera, effective from 2:00 PM today, Friday, April 10.

“This decision is based on the situation and in accordance with the Canary Islands Autonomous Community’s Territorial Emergency Plan for Civil Protection.”

Two helicopters are transferring two “seriously injured” people to hospitals in Tenerife, Canary Islands emergency services said.

Another person is being transferred to the University Hospital of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, while someone has been taken to the University Hospital of Canarias.

A man has died after a bus crashed in San Sebastian de La Gomera in the Canary Islands.A post on the 112 Canarias official account said emergency services attended to 28 occupants of the bus, which included the driver and 27 British tourists.

One man was confirmed dead at the scene while three others suffered serious injuries.

The injured were transferred to the Hospital Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe.