A partial tunnel collapse in Wilmington, Los Angeles trapped 31 construction workers hundreds of feet underground Wednesday night, but all were safely rescued after navigating six miles to safety.
The incident occurred around 8 p.m. in the Los Angeles Effluent Outfall Tunnel, part of a $630 million wastewater infrastructure project. Workers riding in a shuttle vehicle were halted by fallen debris roughly a mile from the site. They then traversed the remainder of the tunnel on foot—climbing over a 12‑ to 15‑foot mound of loose soil—before being reached by rescuers.
More than 100 Los Angeles Fire Department responders, including Urban Search & Rescue teams, as well as paramedics, took part in the rescue operation. All workers were brought to the surface by around 9:20 p.m. and assessed; none had serious injuries.
Construction on the seven‑mile tunnel, located approximately 400 feet underground, has been halted pending investigation. Authorities are reviewing engineering, geology, and structural safety before work resumes.
