Wilmington, CA — July 10, 2025
A tunnel collapse in Wilmington, California, about 22 miles south of Los Angeles, triggered a massive emergency response Wednesday evening, as over a dozen construction workers were trapped beneath a pile of dirt.
The collapse occurred at a Clearwater Project construction site near the Port of Los Angeles. According to officials, a section of the underground tunnel gave way unexpectedly, causing an estimated 12 to 15 feet of dirt to block the exit route. The length of the tunnel project is seven miles, and the incident occurred at the five to six-mile mark.
Despite the dangerous conditions, all of the trapped workers managed to escape without injury. Some reportedly climbed over the large mound of dirt to reach safety. Fortunately, the trapped construction workers were trapped on the other side of the boring machine, allowing them to escape safely.
The Los Angeles Fire Department arrived on the scene shortly after 8:45 p.m. PST and confirmed that all personnel were accounted for. Rescue teams assisted in the evacuation, though many workers had already begun self-rescue efforts by the time crews arrived.
City of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wrote in a post to X. “The City of Los Angeles has mobilized resources to the tunnel collapse in Wilmington. More than 100 LAFD responders have been deployed, including Urban Search and Rescue teams. Thank you to all of those who are acting immediately to respond to this emergency.” The collapse happened at the $630.5 million Los Angeles Effluent Outfall Tunnel, which is part of the Los Angeles County Sanitation District’s Clearwater Project.
“There were no injuries, and everyone is safe — that’s the best outcome we could’ve hoped for,” said LAFD Battalion Chief Maria Ortiz. “These workers kept calm and helped each other out, even as tons of soil blocked their path.”
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the collapse. Construction on the project has been temporarily halted.
Local authorities say no further risk to the surrounding community has been identified.
