Los Angeles tunnel collapse: What we know, as at least 15 trapped

The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) said as many as 15 tunnel workers are trapped after a collapse in an industrial tunnel in the Wilmington neighborhood on Wednesday night.

Newsweek reached out to the LAFD via phone and was referred to its alert page for updates on the rescue mission.

What To Know

According to the firefighters, the collapse could be “as many as six miles south” from the sole access point of the tunnel. More than 100 firefighters have been dispatched to the scene and no injuries had been confirmed as of 12:05 a.m. Thursday morning ET.

Firefighters with the search-and-rescue team “specially trained, certified and equipped to handle confined space tunnel rescues” are assigned to the recovery effort.

In an updated advisory, the LAFD warned that “Excessive noise from media helicopters above the rescue site are interfering with the ability of rescue personnel to effectively communicate face-to-face or via radio at ground level.”

The incident commander requested media to be no closer than one mile from the intersection of Figueroa Street and Lomita Boulevard, LAFD said.

The department also told Newsweek via phone that a public information officer is headed to the scene and expected to brief the media shortly.

This is a developing story that will be updated with additional information.