Russian soccer fans hurt in Rome metro escalator accident

 

A part of the underground escalator damaged where some of CSKA Moscow supporters were injured in Rome, Italy, October 23, 2018. Vigili del Fuoco /Handout/via REUTERS

 

ROME (Reuters) - An escalator in a Rome metro station packed with CSKA Moscow soccer fans broke on Tuesday, injuring at least 20 people as they were flung down the stairs, Italian police said.

 

Seven people was seriously hurt in the accident at the city-centre Repubblica station. None of the injuries were reported to be life-threatening.

 

State television RAI broadcast a video of the incident that showed the escalator suddenly speed up, leaving people in a tangled crush at the bottom, unable to jump free.

 

The station was full of Russian fans headed towards Rome's Olympic Stadium where CSKA Moscow were to play AS Roma in the Champions League.

 

Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi visited the metro station and said the local transport authority had opened an investigation.

 

"From what witnesses have said, it seems that some fans were jumping and dancing on the stairs," Raggi told reporters.

 

Italian media said some soccer supporters were trapped between the metal plates of the steps.

 

(Reporting by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Robin Pomeroy)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-10-24

 

Jumping and dancing, what an intelligent thing to do.

Soccer fans!  Hope they had a fun time in the hospital.

Geezer

If you actually watch the video it looked like the escalator broke. It then sped up and everyone piled up in a heap at the bottom. 

European Soccer fans  are noted for their genteel care of Soccer facilities

16 hours ago, webfact said:

"From what witnesses have said, it seems that some fans were jumping and dancing on the stairs," Raggi told reporters.

May have been a contributing factor...

But would also say the maintenance of the escalators need investigating, and possibly the over loading.

certainly a few beer bottles lying around.