An adult couple of holidaymakers who found themselves stuck at the peak of Teide without water or warm clothing were saved early on Wednesday after activating the SOS alarm button from the upper cable car station, directly linked to the 1-1-2 emergency services in the Canary Islands, as reported by Volcano Teide.
The Teleférico staff, according to the company, provided full cooperation in the rescue, also making available the rescue teams stationed at their premises for the emergency response. A team of firefighters from La Orotava also arrived at the scene and participated in the operation.
The two tourists were given warm clothing and water, as they expressed feeling dehydrated, and once their well-being was confirmed, they were transported to a hotel in La Orotava. The operation concluded successfully and without major incidents at 2:20 a.m.
Volcano Teide emphasises that the extreme weather conditions at nearly 4,000 metres of altitude in the high mountains can be harsh, so if you are planning a trip to Teide, it is crucial to equip yourself with appropriate high-altitude clothing, sturdy footwear and sufficient water.
The SOS button, positioned at the upper cable car station’s premises, was activated on December 12, 2023, by the Cabildo de Tenerife and 1-1-2 Canarias, in collaboration with the Volcano Teide company.
The availability of the SOS button and Cable Car facilities near the summit of Teide is deemed essential by officials to streamline and speed up the rescue of park visitors encountering mishaps. In fact, it is reported that this has improved rescue response times by over six hours.
This system is part of a series of commitments made by Volcano Teide to ensure the safety of Park visitors and its close collaboration with entities such as the Red Cross, Tenerife Firefighters, Emergency and Rescue Group, Emergency Service Canario, State security forces and bodies, as well as other mountain rescue teams.
