📰 Firefighters Rescue 31 Workers After Tunnel Collapse in Los Angeles

In a dramatic underground rescue, 31 construction workers were safely evacuated after a partial tunnel collapse in Wilmington, Los Angeles, on Wednesday evening. The incident occurred during work on the $630.5 million Los Angeles Effluent Outfall Tunnel, part of the city’s Clearwater Project aimed at upgrading aging wastewater infrastructure.

🚨 Collapse Details

• The collapse happened about six miles into the tunnel, located 450 feet underground, near the 1700 block of South Figueroa Street.
• Workers were operating a tunnel boring machine when the structural lining gave way, causing a mound of debris to block their exit.

🚒 Swift Emergency Response

• More than 100 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel, including Urban Search and Rescue teams, were deployed to the scene.
• Workers had to climb over a 12- to 15-foot pile of dirt and navigate through confined spaces to reach safety.
• The rescue was completed within an hour, and no serious injuries were reported.

👷 Community Reaction

• Mayor Karen Bass called the operation a “victory” and praised first responders as “L.A.’s true heroes”.
• Supervisor Janice Hahn expressed relief, saying, “We are so blessed tonight that all these men made it out safely”.
• Families of the workers described the ordeal as traumatic, with some fearing they wouldn’t survive.

🔍 Investigation Underway

• The Clearwater Project has been temporarily halted as officials investigate the cause of the collapse.
• Engineers will assess tunnel conditions to ensure safety before construction resumes.

This incident underscores the risks of deep infrastructure work and the incredible coordination required to protect lives beneath the surface.