Emergency response launched after underground accident in major infrastructure Project
Thirty-one construction workers inside a large industrial tunnel in Los Angeles reached safety following a partial collapse on Wednesday evening. Officials expressed relief, noting that the situation could have had far more serious consequences.
Collapse occurred deep underground; cause remains under investigation
The incident took place approximately 400 feet below the surface, between the tunnel boring machine—located 5 miles from the entrance—and the workers’ position, nearly 6 miles in, according to the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, which oversees the project.
The workers managed to navigate over 12 feet of unstable soil to reach the tunnel boring machine, from where they were transported back to the surface in a yellow rescue cage lifted by a crane. Authorities confirmed that none of the workers sustained serious injuries.
Work halted as safety evaluation begins
The tunnel, part of a nearly $700 million project, is 18 feet wide and will span a total of 7 miles. Once completed, it is intended to carry treated wastewater from various parts of Los Angeles County to the Pacific Ocean.
Construction work has been temporarily suspended until the project contractor investigates the incident and deems the site safe to continue operations.
Local officials praised the workers’ calm and preparedness during the emergency. Family members, initially fearing the worst, expressed gratitude upon learning that their loved ones had been rescued unharmed.
