According to the president of the Madeira Civil Protection Regional Service, José Dias, six victims are French, two Portuguese, two German and one Brazilian.

In a press conference in Funchal, the official said that the two serious victims, one Portuguese and one French, were sent to the Funchal Hospital and the rest to the Santana Health Centre.

The accident occurred at 1.57pm, with the rescue operation involving 19 vehicles, a helicopter and 70 operatives from various fire brigades and security forces.

"We had no deaths, no one was buried," said Regional Health Secretary Pedro Ramos, who indicated that the two people transported to the Funchal Hospital are in a "high severity" state.

The regional secretary said that the patient with a more serious injury, namely the amputation of an upper limb, was sent to the operating room of the Funchal Hospital and that the other victim who was also severely injured, namely a traumatic brain injury, went to the Intensive Care Unit.

He also highlighted the monitoring of psychological care and translation support to the victims' relatives.

The regional secretary of Tourism and Culture, Eduardo Jesus, stressed that the orography of Madeira is predisposed to accidents of this nature.

"Any outdoor activity carries a risk, that trail is recommended and was intervened as early as this year, had new balconies, improved floors, this kind of circumstances is unpredictable and has nothing to do with what we man can master about the situation," he noted.

The collapse occurred around 2pm next to the Caldeirão Verde lagoon, where there is a levada that has a length of 6.5 kilometres and an average journey time of five and a half hours, being much sought after by tourists.

The landslide hit the walkers just as they were resting.

The Levada do Caldeirão begins and ends at Queimadas Forest Park and offers hikers views of the orography of the interior of the island, at an altitude of 990 metres.

The trail will be closed for evaluation.