LA Tunnel Collapse Traps 31; All Workers Safe

A partial collapse occurred in a nearly $700 million sanitation tunnel under construction in Los Angeles, trapping 31 workers about 400 feet underground and up to six miles from the nearest access point. More than 100 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel and specialized rescue teams launched a major operation, helping the workers escape through a gap in the debris and bringing them to the surface in a cage hoisted by crane. All workers were unharmed, and their families, along with city officials such as Mayor Karen Bass, expressed immense relief. The incident, which happened during the Clearwater Tunneling Project, caused work on the tunnel to be paused indefinitely. The cause of the collapse is under investigation. The workers described the ordeal as terrifying but were grateful for the coordinated rescue.