A number of people were injured on Wednesday evening after being trampled on when a gate leading to the ferry at the Mġarr harbour terminal was closed suddenly.

An eyewitness told Times of Malta the incident happened shortly before 6pm on Wednesday.

A glass door connecting the terminal to the ferry embarkation bridge was apparently closed due to fears over the number of passengers boarding the vessel, but passengers in the terminal were not informed that they could no longer board.

Beatrice Galea said she and a friend heard screams from the top of the escalator leading to the ferry as they prepared to board on their way back to Malta.

Since the escalator was not switched off and passengers were unaware what was happening, more people continued to pour into the narrow area between the top of the escalator and the door with nowhere to go, trampling over each other amid panic and screaming.

Ms Galea said she injured her foot while her friend was slightly injured and suffered a panic attack.

Other people present claimed six people had been§ hurt.

We heard screams from the top of the escalator leading to the ferry

The situation was eventually eased when a passenger pushed the emergency stop button at the top of the escalator, allowing people to clear the area.

The gate was later opened and passengers were allowed to embark, despite the earlier concerns.

Gozo Channel chairman Joe Cordina said the company would examine CCTV footage to assess what had happened.

He said it was too early to comment but that it appeared normal procedures had been followed. Mr Cordina said there had been a large volume of people awaiting passage, including several groups, and some people had surged forward to get on board before the others.