Dramatic Rescue: All 31 Workers Safely Extracted After Wilmington Tunnel Collapse
Los Angeles, CA – A major construction incident in Wilmington on Wednesday night, July 9, 2025, saw 31 construction workers temporarily trapped after a section of a massive wastewater tunnel collapsed. Thanks to a swift and coordinated response from the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) and other agencies, all workers were successfully rescued without any visible injuries, averting what officials described as a potential tragedy.
The incident occurred in an industrial tunnel under construction for a critical wastewater treatment facility, part of the Los Angeles Effluent Outfall Tunnel project. The collapse was reported around 7:58 p.m. PDT, isolating the workers approximately five to six miles from the sole access point, located near the 1700 block of Figueroa Street and Lomita Boulevard in the Harbor-area neighborhood of Wilmington, according to LAist and FOX 11 Los Angeles.
More than 100 LAFD responders, including specialized Urban Search and Rescue teams, were immediately deployed to the scene. The rescue operation involved a complex effort to reach the trapped individuals. Fire officials reported that the workers were able to scramble onto a pile of loose soil, estimated to be between 12 to 15 feet high, on the other side of the collapse. From there, they were shuttled out several at a time by tunnel vehicles to the entry point. KCAL News, a media partner of LAist, reported that some workers were also hoisted to the surface by a crane. By shortly before 10 p.m., the LAFD confirmed that all 31 workers had been safely removed from the tunnel, alive and without visible injury, a testament to the rapid and effective emergency response.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass visited the site and expressed immense relief at the outcome. In a post to X, she thanked the first responders, stating, “I was so concerned that we were going to find tragedy. Instead, what we found was victory.” LAFD Interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva echoed this sentiment, telling reporters, “Tonight, we were lucky,” as reported by NBC News.
The tunnel is a crucial component of the $630.5 million Los Angeles Effluent Outfall Tunnel project, commissioned by the Los Angeles County Sanitation District as part of its Clearwater Project. This 7-mile long, 18-foot-diameter tunnel, located approximately 450 feet below ground level, is designed to safely transport treated water from the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant to the Pacific Ocean. The Hyperion plant, operational since 1894, is the city’s oldest and largest wastewater treatment facility. The new tunnel will allow for repairs to aging wastewater management tunnels constructed in 1937 and 1958, according to Flatiron Dragados, the project’s prime contractor.
The project is a significant part of Los Angeles’ long-term strategy to enhance water recycling efforts, with a decades-long plan aiming to eventually provide 50% of the city’s drinking water from recycled wastewater. Tunneling for the project was expected to be completed by April 2025, with the overall project completion targeted for 2027 and activation of the new tunnel by January 2028.
While the exact cause of the collapse is still under investigation, Robert Ferrante, chief engineer and general manager for the Los Angeles County Sanitation District, indicated that preliminary reports suggested a section of the already built tunnel experienced “squeezing ground” and a “partial collapse.” The successful rescue operation underscores the preparedness and bravery of Los Angeles’ emergency services in handling complex industrial accidents.
