As many as 15 workers may have been trapped underground following reports of an industrial tunnel collapse in Wilmington.
As of 9 p.m. Wednesday, the workers were being hoisted out of the tunnel and appeared not to have been injured, according to local TV news footage. It’s unclear how long the rescue operation will last.
The tunnel was being built as part of a sanitation project.
More than 100 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel had been assigned to the incident at 1701 N. Figueroa St., the site of the only entry point to the tunnel. Among them were search and rescue teams specially trained and equipped to handle confined-space tunnel rescues.
It was feared the workers could have been trapped up to six miles south of the access point, according to the LAFD.
TV news footage showed first responders gathered around a wide shaft at the site of the incident and a metal cage hoisting up workers, who exited calmly.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.