Perth escalator crush injures 13

A crush on a Perth train station escalator has caused chaos and panic with 13 people taken to hospital.

Emergency crews rushed to the Esplanade station in the CBD after the major incident, which was sparked by a woman fainting on the downward escalator.

The fall caused other people riding on the escalator behind her to tumble forward, injuring more than a dozen.

A St John's Ambulance spokesman said there were no serious injuries, with officers and hospital staff having to deal with mainly cuts and abrasions.

However, there were queries over spinal injuries for four of the patients.

Tammy Hendriksen, whose mother was one of the injured, described the scene as horrific.

"You could not see what was down the bottom, and then when you got closer all you could hear was this terrible screaming and yelling," Ms Hendriksen told Seven News.

"People were just saying get off, and go back - and then there was a pile of people just tripping and falling over each other."

It is believed many of the injured had been attending a charity bingo session at the nearby Convention Centre.

A string of ambulances and fire appliances were called to the CBD station.

A spokeswoman for the Public Transport Authority said they were "extremely concerned" at the incident, and had launched an investigation.

She said initial inquiries indicated there was no mechanical fault with the escalator.