Two holidaymaking hikers are in a serious condition in Madeira today after a landslide that caused lesser injuries to nine others.
One of the tourists – described as French – has had to have a hand amputated, say reports.
The other, a Portuguese national, “suffered serious head injuries”.
The victims – including various French people, two Germans and one Brazilian – were taking a break from a 6.5 km hike through the iconic Caldeirão Velho, writes tabloid Correio da Manhã.
At around 2pm, stones and earth suddenly rained down on them, prompting a complex rescue operation.
Explain reports, the hiking trail has areas that are 990 metres high.
Rescue personnel set up a field hospital at the site, with a helicopter airlifting the worst injured to a nearby hospital.
