Three British people were injured in an explosion at a hotel on the Spanish holiday island of Tenerife, local authorities have said.
A woman was taken to hospital with severe burns to her face and scalp following the blast in Adeje on the south-west coast of the island on Friday afternoon.
An eight-year-old British girl suffered neck burns and a man was treated for minor abrasions, the local government of the Canary Islands said in a statement.
Two other women, aged 38 and 34, were also treated for minor burns in hospital. The 38-year-old woman was described as a Belgian national.
A spokesman said: “At 4.09pm on Friday emergency services were called to an explosion in a machine in a poolside bar at a hotel in Playa Paraiso, in the town of Adeje, with several people suffering from burn injuries.
“Emergency resources were immediately mobilised. Fire crews attended to inspect the zone but their intervention was not necessary.”
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We are aware of reports of an incident involving British nationals and are talking to local authorities. We stand ready to help if needed.”
Three ambulances attended the scene following the explosion, which localreports suggested may have been caused by a beer canister.
The British woman suffering serious injuries was taken to La Candelaria hospital in Tenerife’s capital, Santa Cruz.
Meanwhile, the young girl and man received treatment in the smaller Hospiten Sur in Arona, to the south of the island. The 34-year-old woman with minor injuries was reported to be a Spanish national.
She received treatment at the Quiron Costa hospital in Adeje together with the Belgian national.
Adeje is a popular holiday resort, with nearby sand beaches such as Playa de Las Americas and Los Cristianos particularly well-known to British tourists.
The area boasts a lively night-life in addition to golf clubs, zoos and other leisure activities such as go-karting, fishing, sailing and dolphin and whale watching.
Enjoying year-round good weather, the Canary Islands receive thousands of British holidaymakers during the cold winter months.
Temperatures tend to range from around 24C in summer to 17C in winter.