What started as a routine evening at a massive construction site in Wilmington, a suburb of Los Angeles, has turned into a full-scale emergency.
More than two dozen workers are currently trapped underground following a devastating tunnel collapse late Wednesday evening.
Emergency Crews Rush to the Scene
The incident was reported around 8 p.m., prompting an immediate response from the Los Angeles Fire Department, which quickly deployed all available Urban Search and Rescue Teams.
Their mission is urgent and delicate: rescue 28 workers believed to be stuck beneath a mountain of debris.
According to CBS News, the collapse took place during work on a high-budget infrastructure project that’s been in the works for years.
Project Details Add to the Challenge
This isn’t just any tunnel. The collapse occurred at the Los Angeles Effluent Outfall Tunnel, a $630.5 million project commissioned by the LA County Sanitation District.
Designed to handle wastewater, the tunnel is a massive structure—seven miles long, approximately 18 feet wide, and buried about 450 feet underground.
Rescue teams are facing a major logistical hurdle.
The only point of access into the tunnel is reportedly located up to six miles away from where the collapse happened, making it incredibly difficult to reach the trapped workers quickly.
Some Workers Rescued, More Still Trapped
Despite the overwhelming conditions, there’s already been a glimmer of hope.
Just after 9 p.m., a few workers were seen being lifted to safety via crane, drawing cautious optimism from emergency personnel and worried families nearby.
Meanwhile, authorities have requested at least 10 ambulances to be on standby, suggesting they’re bracing for a range of injuries once more workers are pulled out.
A Project Years in the Making
This tunnel is part of a larger plan to upgrade Los Angeles County’s wastewater system, a massive effort that was scheduled to finish tunneling this year and complete all work by 2027.
The prime contractor, Flatiron Dragados, has described the tunnel as one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects of its kind.
But now, those long-term goals have taken a back seat to the urgent need to save lives.
A Race Against Time
As night falls over Los Angeles, the race continues to locate and free the remaining trapped workers.
Emergency crews are working in high-stress conditions, dealing with not only the physical dangers of the collapse but also the challenge of navigating a deep, narrow, and partially blocked tunnel.
Officials say this is still a developing situation, and updates will be shared as they come in.