All 31 workers rescued after Wilmington tunnel collapse, LAFD confirms

All 31 workers trapped after an industrial tunnel collapse in Wilmington have been successfully rescued, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The collapse was reported just before 8 pm on Wednesday(July 9) near South Figueroa Street and Q Street, approximately six miles from the tunnel’s access point. Initial reports indicated that 15 to 28 workers were unaccounted for, but officials later confirmed that a total of 31 workers were rescued and fully accounted for.

More than 100 LAFD personnel were deployed, including specialized Search and Rescue teams trained in confined-space operations. Rescue crews used a crane to extract the workers in groups of eight from the collapsed area.


NewsChopper footage showed emotional scenes as workers emerged and embraced one another after being pulled to safety.

“All 31 workers have been safely rescued and no injuries have been reported,” LAFD said in a statement.

The cause of the collapse remains under investigation, and officials have not released detailed information about the nature of the tunnel or the construction project involved.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass praised the swift efforts of emergency responders. “Thank you to all of our brave first responders who acted immediately,” she said, greeting some of the rescued workers in person at the scene.

The incident prompted a full-scale emergency response due to the remote location of the collapse and the complex nature of tunnel rescues. The operation lasted several hours and involved coordination across multiple units.

Authorities have asked the public to continue avoiding the area as post-rescue safety assessments and investigations continue. This marks a successful outcome to what began as a high-risk emergency, with officials crediting rapid coordination and expert response teams for the safe rescue of all individuals.

The collapsed tunnel is believed to be part of a large-scale utility or industrial project, though specifics about the site have not been released. Authorities are also working to determine if there were any violations of safety protocols or structural concerns prior to the incident.