At least 28 German tourists have been killed in a bus crash in Caniço, Madeira Island, at around 6.30pm this afternoon.
The passengers were travelling in a tourist bus along a road in the area of Caniço, when the vehicle skidded and fell down the side of a hill crashing on top of a house.
According to Santa Cruz mayor, Filipe Sousa, there are 11 male and 17 female victims.
The group of tourists was travelling from Santa Cruz to Funchal and was staying in the local Quinta Splendida hotel unit.
The bus driver and tourist guide are reported to be of Portuguese nationality and are being assisted in Hospital Central do Funchal, along with other passengers (the number of injured passengers is yet unknown) .
More than 19 emergency vehicles are involved in the rescue operation.
President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is travelling to Madeira this evening.
