logo
31 construction workers reach safety after partial collapse of Los Angeles industrial tunnel

31 construction workers reach safety after partial collapse of Los Angeles industrial tunnel

CTV News10-07-2025
Maria Orozco hugs her son, Oraldo Orozco, one of her three sons who were trapped as tunnel workers inside a collapsed tunnel under construction for Los Angeles County's Clean Water project, Wednesday, July 9, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
LOS ANGELES — Thirty-one construction workers inside a huge industrial tunnel in Los Angeles made it to safety after a portion of it collapsed Wednesday evening, an outcome officials called a blessing after they initially feared much worse.
The cave-in appears to have occurred between the tunnel boring machine 5 miles (8 kilometres) in from the sole entrance and the construction workers who were working 6 miles (9.6 kilometres) in, said Michael Chee, spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, which is in charge of the nearly US$700 million project. The workers were about 400 feet (121 metres) underground.
Authorities were still investigating the cause, Chee said.
The workers scrambled over loose soil more than 12 feet (19.3 metres) high to reach the tunnel boring machine and then were transported back to the opening. Aerial footage showed workers being brought out of the tunnel in a yellow cage hoisted up by a crane.
None of those rescued had major injuries, authorities said.
Arally Orozco said she was at church when her phone started buzzing with calls and then her son texted her the news of the tunnel where her three brothers worked.
'It was sad and scary,' she said in Spanish. 'We feared the worst.'
After an hour, she managed to get through to one brother who told her they had to squeeze through a tight space to get out.
'My brother was crying,' she said. 'He told me he thought he was going to die underground.'
LA City Councilmember Tim McOsker praised the workers for keeping cool heads.
'This is a highly technical, difficult project. And they knew exactly what to do. They knew how to secure themselves,' he said. 'Thank goodness for the good people that were down in the tunnel.'
Mayor Karen Bass said at a news conference that she met with some of the workers.
'I know when we raced down here I was so concerned that we were going to find tragedy. Instead, what we found was victory,' Bass said. 'All of the men that were in that tunnel, rescued, up, safe.'
The tunnel is being constructed almost entirely underneath public right-of-way. The structure is 18 feet (5.5 metres) wide and will be 7 miles (11.3 kilometres) long to carry treated wastewater from across Los Angeles County to the Pacific Ocean.
Work will not resume until the project contractor assesses what happened and deems the site safe, authorities said.
Damian Dovarganes And Julie Watson, The Associated Press
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Seagull suffers ‘horrific' injury from discarded wooden barbecue skewer, B.C. rescue says
Seagull suffers ‘horrific' injury from discarded wooden barbecue skewer, B.C. rescue says

CTV News

time7 hours ago

  • CTV News

Seagull suffers ‘horrific' injury from discarded wooden barbecue skewer, B.C. rescue says

A wooden barbecue skewer is successfully removed from the neck of a gull. (Credit) Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C. A carelessly discarded wooden barbecue skewer seriously injured a seagull in White Rock, B.C., according to a wildlife rescue, which is urging people to be more careful with their garbage. The Glaucous-winged gull was spotted earlier this month on the popular White Rock Pier with the 'unusual impalement' piercing its neck, the Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C. said in a statement. 'Although still able to fly, a Wildlife Rescue volunteer skillfully captured the bird and brought them to the facility for care,' a spokesperson wrote. 'The bird was anesthetized, the skewer was carefully removed, and the gull was treated for their injuries. After just over two weeks in care, the gull's wound has healed fully.' Expand Autoplay 1 of 6 seagull The gull in recovery (Credit: Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C.) seagull The gull preparing for its X-Ray (Credit: Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C.) seagull X-Ray after the removal of the skewer (Credit: Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C.) Seagull X-Ray showing the "unusual impalement"(Credit: Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C.) seagull The gull in recovery (Credit: Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C.) Seagull The gull in recovery (Credit: Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C.) This rescue marks the second time in two years the rescue has taken in a gull injured in these circumstances. 'This injury is a tragic example of the harmful effects human trash can have on wildlife,' the statement from the rescue said. The gull will be released back into the wild Monday after what the organization describes as a 'remarkable recovery' from a 'horrific injury.' The organization encourages anyone who sees an animal in distress to report it online.

'A big bang and a pop': Passengers use emergency slide to flee smoking plane at Denver airport
'A big bang and a pop': Passengers use emergency slide to flee smoking plane at Denver airport

National Post

time8 hours ago

  • National Post

'A big bang and a pop': Passengers use emergency slide to flee smoking plane at Denver airport

Passengers slid down an emergency slide of a smoking jet at Denver International Airport due to a possible problem with the plane's landing gear, authorities said. Article content American Airlines Flight 3023 reported a 'possible landing gear incident' during its departure from Denver on Saturday afternoon, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The problem involved an aircraft tire, the Fort Worth, Texas-based company said in a statement. Article content The Boeing 737 MAX 8 carrying 173 passengers and six crew members was on its way to Miami International Airport, American said. Article content Video aired by local media showed people sliding down the inflatable chute near the front of the plane while clutching luggage and small children. Some passengers, including at least one adult carrying a young child, tripped at the end of the slide and fell onto the concrete runway. Passengers were then taken to the terminal by bus. Article content One of the passengers was taken to a hospital with a minor injury, American Airlines said in its statement. Five people were evaluated for injuries at the scene but did not require hospitalization, Denver International Airport officials said. Article content Article content 'About halfway to takeoff speed, we hear a big bang and a pop,' passenger Shaun Williams told KUSA-TV. 'The pilot immediately started abort procedures for taking off. You could feel him start to hit the brakes.' Article content Firefighters extinguished a fire on the aircraft, the Denver Fire Department said. Article content 'All customers and crew deplaned safely, and the aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team,' American said. Article content

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store