Imagine being 400 feet underground, five miles from daylight, when the earth suddenly shifts.
That’s exactly what 31 tunnel workers in Los Angeles faced late Wednesday.
A section of a massive wastewater tunnel collapsed beneath Wilmington.
Miraculously, all made it out alive.
Thanks to a swift and heroic response from over 100 emergency personnel, the workers were rescued.
This included elite Urban Search and Rescue teams.
Some were lifted out by crane in dramatic scenes captured by local media.
What Happened?
The collapse occurred during operation of a tunnel boring machine.
Officials believe “squeezing ground”—when soil compresses during excavation—was to blame.
“It’s a rare but dangerous scenario,” explained Robert Ferrante, chief engineer of LA County Sanitation.
Incredibly, the trapped workers climbed over a 15-foot mound of loose dirt to reach safety.
From there, they were ferried by tunnel vehicle to the exit point.
Mayor Karen Bass personally met with the crew and responders.
“Thank you again to all our first responders working to get Angelenos to safety,” she posted.
Work is now halted pending inspection.
As LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn put it, “This reminds us just how risky these massive infrastructure projects can be.”
Sometimes, survival is the best headline.
