A dramatic rescue effort is underway after an industrial tunnel collapsed Wednesday night within the Wilmington neighborhood, trapping no less than 15 employees underground, in accordance with the Los Angeles Hearth Division (LAFD).
“As many as 15 tunnel employees have been initially reported remoted by a “collapse” in an (undetermined depth or diameter) industrial tunnel as many as six miles south from the response handle, which is the only real tunnel entry,” LAFD said in a statement.
“No accidents have been confirmed. Greater than 100 LAFD responders are assigned, together with LAFD City Search and Rescue staff members specifically skilled, licensed and geared up to deal with confined house tunnel rescues.”
The collapse occurred at roughly 8 p.m. close to the intersection of West Lomita Boulevard and South Figueroa Road, on the 1700 block of North Figueroa Road.
The tunnel is a part of the $630 million Los Angeles Effluent Outfall Tunnel mission, a wastewater administration system being constructed by Flatiron‑Dragados. It runs roughly 7 miles, measures about 18 toes in diameter, and descends roughly 450 toes underground, in accordance with the LA Times.
Rescue groups famous that the trapped employees are positioned as a lot as six miles south of the tunnel’s solely entry level.
BREAKING: A tunnel collapse in Los Angeles, California has left as much as 15 employees trapped. pic.twitter.com/U5AVBlMMZo
— The Basic (@GeneralMCNews) July 10, 2025
Extra from CBS News:
Authorities haven’t been capable of contact the folks trapped inside. The tunnel collapse appeared to wreck communication traces.
LAFD has despatched an enormous quantity of assets, together with all of their City Search and Rescue groups, to the 1700 block of South Figueroa Road. Firefighters stated the collapse occurred as many as six miles away from the only real entry level of the tunnel.
“The Metropolis of Los Angeles has mobilized assets to the tunnel collapse in Wilmington,” Mayor Karen Bass wrote in a post to X. Greater than 100 LAFD responders have been deployed, together with City Search and Rescue groups. Thanks to all of those that are appearing instantly to answer this emergency.”
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