The video will start in 8 Cancel

News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

An explosion at a Brussels metro station has killed 20 people and a further 55 are injured.

The blast was reported at Maalbeek metro station just after 9am local time, increasing fears that the city is under a terror attack following two blasts at Brussels Airport this morning.

20 people are dead after the explosion during morning rush hour as the train pulled into Maalbeek.

Belgian broadcaster VRT says 20 people died in the blast at Maalbeek Metro station and 14 died at the airport.

It is believed a bomb went off as the underground train reached Maalbeek station at 9.11am.

If confirmed, that would take the current total death toll to 28.

Maalbeek metro station is close to the European Union building, and authorities have now closed down all metro stations in the city.

(Image: Vantagenews)

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

(Image: Twitter / TiesW_)

All metro stations and schools have been closed and all flights have been cancelled.

Images posted on Twitter show frantic passengers walking through the tunnels to escape.

The bomb disposal unit was pictured arriving at the scene.

(Image: Serge Massart / Twitter)

(Image: Sofia Bettiza)

Evan Lamos tweeted: "We are being evacuated from the back of the Metro, between Schuman and Maelbeek.

"Smoke in the tunnel as we are evacuated."

Several people have been injured in the Maalbeek explosion, Sky News reports.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

A witness at Maelbeek station told Belgian broadcaster RTBF: "We left Maelbeek station towards the centre at around 9.07, 9.10, when we felt an explosion which appeared to come from the front of the train.

"The lights went off, there was panic given what happened at Brussels airport.

"The doors of the train were forced open to get off the train. There was a lot of smoke. We left via Maelbeek station. The glass doors were blown out. The explosion must have been violent."

(Image: Reuters) (Image: Reuters) (Image: Reuters)

Near the entrance to the Maelbeek subway station, not far from the headquarters of the European Union, rescue workers set up a makeshift treatment centre in a local pub.

Dazed and shocked morning travellers streamed from the metro entrances as police tried to set up a security cordon.

"The metro was leaving Maelbeek station when there was a really loud explosion," said Alexandre Brans, 32, wiping blood from his face. "It was panic everywhere. There were a lot of people in the metro."

First responders ran through the street outside with two people on stretchers, their clothes badly torn.

For all the latest on this story keep up to date with our live blog.