Six injured in escalator scare

SIX people were injured when a moving escalator reversed direction at the Parkson shopping center on Huaihai Road M. yesterday morning due to a mechanical malfunction.

The injured included a pregnant woman. Most sustained minor injuries on their legs and feet when the accident happened about 10:10am, 10 minutes after the store opened.

Witnesses said they heard shouting from the escalators and then saw people tumbling down one after another.

Zou Wanxian, a middle-aged women who was on the escalator when the accident occurred, said she lost her balance and fell onto other people behind her.

The mother of the pregnant woman sustained scratches on her legs when she tried to stop her daughter from falling.

"This has never happened before," said a Parkson publicity officer surnamed Xu.

Xu said each injured person received compensation ranging from 1,200 yuan (US$184) to 2,000 yuan, adding that the department store will also pay their medical bills.

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