All 31 Workers Rescued After Tunnel Collapse in Los Angeles
A section of an 18‑foot‑diameter industrial tunnel under construction in Wilmington, Los Angeles, partially collapsed on the evening of July 9, 2025, trapping 31 construction workers nearly six miles from the only access shaft. Officials and eyewitnesses described a harrowing ordeal under some 400–450 feet of earth, yet remarkably, every worker emerged alive thanks to quick thinking and disciplined action.
The tunnel is part of the $630–700 million Los Angeles Effluent Outfall Tunnel, a seven‑mile underground conduit designed to carry treated wastewater to the Pacific Ocean beneath the Wilmington neighborhood. Construction began in early 2022 under the Clearwater Project, and until that night had proceeded without incident.
Upon the collapse, workers initially tried to return via the transport shuttle used to service the tunnel boring machine. However, debris blocked the path roughly a mile in; beyond that point, four of the trapped workers led the push forward on foot, frighteningly climbing over a pile of loose soil between 12 and 15 feet high before regrouping with their colleagues. In pitch darkness, under rising water pressure, the men pressed on toward safety. One survivor, Oraldo Orozco, later recounted:
“The water maybe was about 6 feet … rocks, mud, boulders … it was the longest walk in my life.”
Family members back home described momentary terror: Arally Orozco, whose three brothers were among the crew, said one called her in tears, fearing he might not survive.
More than 100 members of the Los Angeles Fire Department, including Urban Search & Rescue teams, staged a major response. Rescue personnel eventually met the group mid‑tunnel, escorted them to access cages, and hoisted them to surface safety by crane in groups of eight.
None of the 31 experienced major injuries; 27 received minor medical evaluations, with no visible trauma reported. Interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva characterized the episode as “Tonight, we were lucky,” praising the calm execution of self‑rescue and emergency coordination.
Local officials lauded the workers’ discipline under pressure. Councilmember Tim McOsker commended their technical skill and composure amid chaos: “They knew exactly what to do… Thank goodness for the good people that were down in the tunnel”.
At a news conference, Mayor Karen Bass described her relief: “Instead of tragedy, what we found was victory… All of the men that were in that tunnel — rescued, up, safe”.
The structural cause of the collapse remains under investigation. Michael Chee, spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, confirmed a full engineering and safety assessment, cautioning that work will not resume until the site is deemed secure—a process that could take months.
Maria Mohammed, president of the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (not involved in the project), emphasized the complexity: constructing near shoreline geology requires designs accounting for both soil and groundwater pressure, which may have contributed to the failure.
This fortunate outcome reflects not only the skill of the workers, but also the presence of supervisor leadership, disciplined teamwork, and readiness of emergency responders. From a conservative‑Christian worldview, such selfless courage among co‑workers and rapid, unified action underscores the value of faith‑inspired stewardship and neighborly responsibility—even underground.
My view is that this incident also highlights the necessity of strong contractor accountability before proceeding with high‑risk infrastructure. Adequate risk assessment, sober moral responsibility, and respect for life must govern decisions in such enormous projects.
Authorities confirmed that Cal/OSHA has been notified and retains up to six months to issue citations if violations are found. Until then, the Clearwater Tunnel project remains paused, with safety and structural clarity postponed into late 2025 or beyond.
This episode stands as a powerful testament to brave, faith‑grounded resolve under dire circumstances. The rescue of 31 men from nearly a half‑mile underground without serious injury is extraordinary. It affirms the crucial role that moral conviction, preparedness, and collective initiative can play when confronted with disaster.
Faith‑minded communities can draw hope from this story: even in the depths beneath a city, human dignity, cooperation, and resilience prevail.