All Workers Escape Safely After Underground Tunnel Collapse at LA Construction Site
An underground tunnel collapsed at a construction site in Los Angeles (LA), United States, but all 31 workers, including those who entered to rescue their colleagues, were safely rescued.
According to CBS and other media outlets, at around 8 p.m. on the 9th (local time), a tunnel 121 meters underground collapsed at a water treatment facility construction site in the Wilmington area of LA. Workers who were inside became trapped as a result of the accident. Initially, 27 workers were trapped in the tunnel, and four others nearby entered the site to rescue their colleagues, bringing the total number of people trapped to 31. LA fire authorities immediately deployed 100 rescue personnel to carry out the operation, and all workers managed to escape to the surface without serious injuries.
The collapsed tunnel is a large industrial tunnel with a diameter of 5.5 meters, and the workers were located 9.6 kilometers from the tunnel entrance. Immediately after the collapse, they held each other's hands, pushed and pulled one another, and climbed up a mound of earth as high as 19 meters. They were then able to reach the surface using the construction site's elevator.
LA City Council member Tim McOsker stated that the workers remained calm. Tim McOsker said, "They knew exactly what to do," adding, "They knew well what steps to take to ensure their own safety. We are fortunate to have such outstanding people deep in the tunnel." LA Mayor Karen Bass expressed her gratitude by saying, "The firefighters who rushed to the scene are the true heroes of LA."
The cause of the tunnel collapse has not yet been clearly identified. Authorities are conducting further investigations, considering the possibility of structural defects in the tunnel wall or ground issues.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
