One man has died and 27 people are injured after a bus carrying British tourists careered down a steep embankment in San Sebastian de La Gomera in the Canary Islands, according to the local government. The horror accident happened at about 1.30pm on the island of La Gomera and the emergency services, including helicopters, are at the scene.

The deceased man is said to be British and was on holiday on the island. According to reports, he was thrown from the bus and his body has been recovered. A search is ongoing in case anyone else has been thrown from the vehicle.

Many of the passengers were trapped and had to be released by the fire brigade, who had also secured the bus to prevent it from rolling further down the ravine. The bus has crashed on the picturesque island, where the road network is very narrow and high as it crosses the mountains. The 112 emergency service says the crash happened on the GM-2 in San Sebastian. The crash site is near a mountain tunnel and a hazardous hairpin bend high above the rocky terrain.

The vehicle has been described as a tourist bus, but it is not yet known if it was on an excursion or taking holidaymakers to their hotel. The nationalities of those involved have not yet been revealed, though some reports suggest they are all British. The full extent of their injuries is also not currently known.

The bus careered off the road for reasons unknown, plunged down the embankment and came to rest on its side.

Several ambulances from the Canary Islands Emergency Service, a medical helicopter, a GES helicopter and police resources are operating at the scene.

A statement issued by the 112 service shortly after the crash confirmed that one person has died, three are gravely injured and another 11 have suffered moderate injuries. These numbers are expected to rise as more details emerge.

La Gomera is one of the prettiest Canary Islands, but it has a network of high and potentially dangerous roads. Tourists who visit the island say “it’s like taking your life in your hands” when crossing from one side to the other. San Sebastian is the most popular holiday hotspot on La Gomera.

According to initial reports, the driver lost control at a critical point on the road, causing the bus to cross the road and fall down the embankment.

The magnitude of the accident forced the immediate mobilisation of an unprecedented emergency device in the area. The 112 Canarias activated the helicopters of the Emergency and Rescue Group (GES) and an aerial medical unit to facilitate the evacuation of the most seriously injured to various hospitals.

The orography of the terrain has complicated the rescue work, forcing the Civil Protection, the Environment of the Cabildo de La Gomera and Volunteer Firefighters to secure the structure of the vehicle to prevent further displacements. The Civil Guard has cordoned off the area to allow air resources to land and guarantee the safety of the intervention teams.

Although the investigation by the Civil Traffic Guard is already under way, it is still too early to determine the exact causes of the bus leaving the road. The authorities are collecting testimonies from those occupants in a mild condition and analysing brake tracks on the asphalt.