31 workers reach safety after partial collapse of Los Angeles industrial tunnel
NPR Online News23 hrs
31 Workers Rescued After LA Industrial Tunnel Collapse
Above: Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters at the site of the tunnel collapse on July 9, 2025. Image copyright: PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Thanks to the efforts of Los Angeles’ emergency services, a disaster has been averted. The LAFD and other first responders were quick to mobilize and mount a successful rescue operation, which returned every worker to the surface unharmed. Without their skill and expertise, there is no guarantee such a welcome outcome would have occurred.
Narrative B
The partial tunnel collapse on Wednesday has potentially exposed serious faults with the Los Angeles Effluent Outfall Tunnel Project. The LACSD will conduct a thorough investigation to assess the cause of the cave-in and the integrity of the tunnel. In the meantime, work will be paused to ensure workers’ safety, which remains the LACSD’s highest priority.