'It was like a scene from the apocalypse': Dozens of people are injured as escalator at Italian underground station SPEEDS out-of-control sending passengers hurtling into each other at the bottom (2 Pics)

A football fan has lost a foot after an escalator ran out of control at a subway station in Rome

The Italian side are in Champions League action against CSKA Moscow on Tuesday night.

Shocking footage emerged ahead of the match of passengers being 'sucked' down the fast-running escalator as they made their way to the game.

A witness claimed the at Repubblica – Teatro dell'Oper station escalator collapsed after a large group of CSKA fans jumped up and down with force.

Dmitry Gurin of the Russian embassy claimed that 30 travelling fans were injured, with 17 taken to hospital. According to Sky Italia, an individual has lost his foot.

Individuals were crushed and dragged between metal plates of the steps as a pile up ensued.

Those travelling on the opposite escalator were even seen dragging fellow passengers away from the mid-section as they desperately clung onto handrails.

A witness said they "had just witnessed a scene from the apocalypse."

The Repubblica station was closed immediately and four ambulances were parked at one of the entrances. Emergency services confirmed all wounded had left the station at 8pm.

The Rome Public Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigation into the cause of the crush and are awaiting police information.

Rome mayor Virginia Raggi visited the scene and said: "Witnesses seem to have been jumping and dance on the escalator. We are available to the injured and their families."

Fans were believed to be carrying glass bottles which smashed and caused further cuts to those crushed.

A member of the emergency services said: "Only half of the escalator is intact. The last steps split and they crumpled on top of one another."

Russian embassy chief Gurin said: "30 people were injured from among the fans of the CSKA football club in connection with the accident on the escalator of Rome's metro station."

The station is on Line A of the Rome underground and is around 35 minutes away from the Stadio Olimpico.

The Champions League Group G match got underway at 8pm.

It has also been reported by ANSA that a Russian fan has been stabbed in clashes between supporters of the two sides near the stadium.