The incident occurred at the Repubblica station at about 7 pm (local time), during "a time of maximum overcrowding", Il Messaggero newspaper reports.
An extremely graphic video of this incident, which features strong language, was published on Telegram.
"A group of CSKA fans went upstairs from the station. At that moment, the escalator collapsed. At least eight of them were injured. The number of victims may increase," a spokesman for the Roman police told Sputnik, adding that all those injured have been hospitalized.
#Roma #23ott 19:45, cede scala mobile #metroA stazione #repubblica: intervento #vigilidelfuoco in corso per soccorso ai feriti pic.twitter.com/TVAsgYD8Zd
— Vigili del Fuoco (@emergenzavvf) 23 октября 2018 г.
"We heard a roar as it came down," one of the eyewitnesses said. "There was no time to save."
One witness also claimed that one of the victims had to have his leg amputated.
Rischiare la vita per prendere la #metro, a #Roma è possibile, maledizione.
— Giuseppe Lentini (@Glentini2001) 23 октября 2018 г.
L'ultima manutenzione delle #scalemobili?#Repubblica #incidente pic.twitter.com/aKCv8urs4p
According to La Repubblica, at least 20 were wounded, with one person ending up "with the semiamputate foot."