Emergency crews in Los Angeles successfully rescued 31 construction workers trapped underground after a tunnel partially collapsed in the Wilmington neighborhood on Wednesday.
The incident occurred during construction on the $630 million Los Angeles Effluent Outfall Tunnel, part of the county’s Clearwater Project to upgrade aging wastewater infrastructure.
The collapse took place around the 1700 block of South Figueroa Street and occurred five to six miles from the only access point to the tunnel, according to Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) officials.
Newsweek contacted the LAFD for comment by phone outside of regular working hours.
Firefighters at the scene of the tunnel collapse in the Wilmington neighborhood of Los Angeles on Wednesday evening.
Firefighters at the scene of the tunnel collapse in the Wilmington neighborhood of Los Angeles on Wednesday evening.
PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP/Getty Images
Why It Matters
The collapse raises concerns about worker safety on one of Los Angeles County’s most ambitious infrastructure projects. The 7-mile tunnel, being built to carry treated wastewater, is located 450 feet underground.
Its construction is intended to replace two aging tunnels built in 1937 and 1958, which serve millions of residents in the region.
What To Know
On Wednesday evening, crews responded quickly to the collapse, deploying more than 100 firefighters to the scene, including specialized urban search and rescue teams.
The workers trapped inside the tunnel were forced to navigate a 12- to 15-foot mound of dirt formed by the collapse. Some climbed over the debris to reach others on the far side, before being transported in groups to the tunnel’s entrance via vehicles.
Paramedics evaluated 27 of the 31 workers following the rescue, but no serious medical issues were confirmed.
The construction project is managed by Flatiron Dragados. According to July 2024 documents from the L.A. County Sanitation Department, the tunneling was expected to be completed by April 2025.
The project has an intended completion date in 2027, and the new tunnel is set to be activated in January 2028.
More than 100 firefighters were deployed to the scene, including specialized urban search and rescue teams.
More than 100 firefighters were deployed to the scene, including specialized urban search and rescue teams.
Damian Dovarganes/AP
What People Are Saying
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass praised the response of the emergency crews, writing on X, formerly Twitter: “LAFD has just reported that all workers who were trapped in the tunnel in Wilmington are now out and accounted for.
“I just spoke with many of the workers who were trapped. Thank you to all of our brave first responders who acted immediately. You are L.A.’s true heroes.”
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, whose district includes Wilmington, wrote on X: “I’m in Wilmington right now where a partial tunnel collapse briefly trapped 30 workers earlier tonight. But thankfully, every single one of them is safely out and accounted for. I’m thankful to the more than 100 LAFD personnel who responded.
“These 31 experienced workers were boring a tunnel for a critical project of LA County Sanitation Districts, which I’m on the Board of. When I heard about this partial collapse, I rushed over fearing the worst. But we are so blessed tonight that all these men made it out safely.”
What Happens Next
County officials have not yet provided details on the cause of the collapse. It remains unclear how the incident might affect the timeline for completing the Clearwater Project.
Engineers and safety inspectors are expected to conduct a full investigation to determine the structural stability of the remaining tunnel and whether additional work is needed before construction resumes.