Russian fans injured after escalator collapse

Two Russian football fans injured in an accident at a Rome rail station have undergone surgery, diplomats announced.

The Russian embassy in Italy said the pair were in a hospital in the Italian capital.

"Three people in the hospital “Umberto I”, Viale del Policlinico, 1. Two Russians underwent surgery," the diplomats tweeted.

The fans of the CSKA Moscow club were among 30 people injured when the escalator gave way at Repubblica station in the Italian capital, reports Sky Italia.

They were travelling to watch their team play in a Champions League match against Roma 

Footage taken by witnesses show the escalator running at an unusually high speed.

Some victims hurled themselves on the central avenue of the escalator to try and avoid injury.

Emergency services described the escalator’s steps as “split and crumpled” and surrounded by broken glass and beer bottles, reports Sky Italia.

The Italian news agency ANSA said more than 20 people were injured, with most suffering leg injuries.

One of the supporters had a foot partially severed in the crush and may face an amputation, Italian newspaper Repubblica reported.

"A group of CSKA fans were going down into the station. At that moment the escalator collapsed," a police spokesman told Russian news agency RIA.

Italian media outlets reported witnesses told police some of the Russian fans were jumping up and down on the escalator.

The accident happened before CSKA Moscow's match with Roma in the group stages of the Champions League.

The Italian club went on to win 3-0.

The Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into the incident.