31 workers rescued after tunnel collapse in Los Angeles

At least 31 construction workers were rescued after an industrial tunnel collapsed in Wilmington, Los Angeles, authorities said.

Authorities explained that after receiving reports of a large number of construction workers trapped in the excavation, the Los Angeles Fire Department escalated the response to a major rescue operation, activating a specialized tunnel emergency protocol.

The operation involved over 100 LAFD responders and specialized equipment from across the city, including urban search and rescue teams specially trained for confined space rescues in subway environments.

"With significant effort, all of the stranded but thankfully uninjured workers were able to scramble to safety one-at-a-time across the large section of piled soil and debris prior to the arrival of LAFD rescuers. Colleagues then ferried them more than five miles in a tunnel transport vehicle to the safety of the access portal," Fire Rescue reported.