LOS ANGELES – Thirty-one construction workers were safely rescued late Wednesday, July 9, 2025, after a section of an industrial tunnel, actively under construction in the Wilmington area of Los Angeles, suffered a significant structural collapse. The incident prompted a large-scale emergency response and highlighted the inherent risks involved in major underground infrastructure projects.
The collapse occurred within a tunnel that is part of the Los Angeles County Sanitation District’s ambitious Clearwater Project. Emergency services were alerted to the situation involving the trapped crew members underground. The swift action by rescue personnel prevented what could have been a far more tragic outcome.
Emergency Response Mobilizes
The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) was the lead agency responding to the collapse site, located near the 1700 block of South Figueroa Street in Wilmington. The scale of the emergency necessitated a substantial deployment of resources and personnel. Over 100 LAFD personnel were dispatched to the scene, including specialized Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) teams equipped for complex confined-space and structural collapse scenarios.
Upon arrival, rescuers faced the challenge of accessing workers trapped deep within the subterranean passageway. Initial assessments indicated the workers were approximately 400 feet underground. Complicating the rescue effort was the sheer distance from the sole entrance, with reports placing the trapped crew between 5 and 6 miles from the point of access.
Workers Scramble to Safety
Remarkably, the 31 workers were able to assist in their own rescue, demonstrating significant fortitude under duress. Following the collapse, which created a substantial blockage, the crew managed to navigate over a pile of loose soil that had caved in. Authorities described the debris pile as standing between 12 and 15 feet high.
Successfully scrambling over this formidable obstacle allowed the workers to reach a point where they could be safely extracted by the waiting rescue teams. Despite the harrowing experience of being trapped underground after a collapse, initial medical evaluations confirmed that none of the rescued workers sustained major injuries. This lack of serious injury among the trapped crew is a testament to both their resilience and the effectiveness of the rescue operation.
The Clearwater Project Context
The industrial tunnel is a crucial component of the Los Angeles County Sanitation District’s Clearwater Project. This extensive infrastructure initiative is designed to upgrade and expand the wastewater collection and treatment system serving Los Angeles County. The project aims to enhance environmental protection and ensure the long-term reliability of the region’s wastewater infrastructure.
The Clearwater Project represents a substantial investment in public works, with its estimated cost ranging from $630.5 million to nearly $700 million. Such large-scale underground construction inherently involves significant engineering challenges and potential safety risks, as tragically underscored by Wednesday’s collapse.
Investigation Underway, Officials React
The specific cause of the tunnel collapse remains under investigation. Authorities from relevant agencies, including potentially the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) and the Los Angeles County Sanitation District, are expected to conduct a thorough examination of the incident site and construction practices to determine what led to the structural failure.
The successful rescue drew comments from prominent local officials. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass acknowledged the professionalism and effectiveness of the emergency response teams involved in the operation. Similarly, L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn commented on the positive outcome, emphasizing the relief felt that all workers were brought to safety without serious harm.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers faced by workers involved in critical infrastructure projects and underscores the importance of stringent safety protocols in underground construction. The focus now shifts to the investigation to understand the cause of the collapse and implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
