Dozens of Construction Workers Rescued After Major Tunnel Collapse in Los Angeles

In a dramatic and high-risk rescue effort, 31 construction workers were safely evacuated on Thursday, July 11, 2024, after a tunnel collapsed in the Wilmington neighborhood of Los Angeles, sending emergency responders racing to the scene.

The collapse occurred inside the Los Angeles Effluent Outfall Tunnel, a massive infrastructure project that is part of the $630.5 million Clearwater Project overseen by the Los Angeles County Sanitation District. The collapse was reported along the 1700 block of South Figueroa Street, although officials later confirmed the actual collapse site was located up to six miles inside the tunnel from the sole access point.

According to officials, 27 workers were initially trapped underground when the collapse occurred. In a brave effort, four additional workers voluntarily entered the tunnel to help those trapped. Within roughly an hour, all 31 individuals were successfully rescued, thanks to the rapid deployment of emergency services.

The Los Angeles Fire Department sent a full-scale response, including more than 100 firefighters and multiple Urban Search and Rescue teams, to navigate the complex underground site and carry out the rescue. Firefighters reported that the trapped workers had to climb over a 12 to 15-foot mound of dirt to reach safety.

Miraculously, none of the workers sustained visible injuries, and all were evaluated by paramedics at the scene.

“This is a dangerous job, and every day he goes in there, I never know if he’s coming back out,” said Chelsea Fernandez, whose husband was among those rescued. Her words echo the anxiety faced daily by families of those working in high-risk environments like deep tunnel construction.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass visited the scene and later shared a statement thanking the emergency responders:

“I just spoke with many of the workers who were trapped. Thank you to our brave first responders who acted immediately. You are L.A.'s true heroes.”

The tunnel is part of a major infrastructure upgrade aimed at replacing wastewater tunnels built in 1937 and 1958. According to contractor Flatiron Dragados, the structure is 7 miles long, 18 feet wide, and sits 450 feet below ground. The project has been in active construction for over two years and was projected to complete tunneling by April 2025, with full system activation targeted for January 2028.

Following the incident, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) confirmed it has opened an investigation into the collapse. The agency has up to six months to issue any safety violation citations.

“This, unfortunately, is the only accident during the construction,” said Michael Chee, spokesperson for the L.A. County Sanitation District. “This project has been in active construction for over two years now. It's been in planning for much longer than that.”

In the wake of the collapse, work on the tunnel has been suspended indefinitely as engineers and investigators assess what went wrong and how future risks can be mitigated. City and county officials have vowed full cooperation with the investigation to ensure the safety of all workers moving forward.