Out-of-control escalator injures 18 shoppers

An escalator in a shopping centre in Hong Kong has injured 18 people after it suddenly starting reversing at high speed.

Video shows the escalator, inside the Langham Place shopping centre in Mong Kok on Saturday, packed with people when it abruptly changes direction.

Shoppers can be seen crashing into a pile at the bottom of the escalator as a crowd of people rush forward to try and pull them off.

According to an eye witness the out of control escalator was travelling “twice as fast” in reverse, UK’s Telegraph reports.

A spokeswoman for Langham Palace said incident was being investigated but the machine had passed a recent inspection.