31 workers rescued after tunnel collapse in LA, officials say

First responders rescued 31 trapped workers from a collapsed tunnel in Los Angeles on July 9, officials said.

Construction workers were inside the tunnel at North Figueroa Street in Wilmington when its structural lining failed about six miles in from the entrance, Los Angeles Fire Department's Interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva said at a news conference.

Crews responded to the scene just before 8 p.m. local time and safely removed the workers from the tunnel without any visible injuries, LAFD said.

The 18-foot-wide tunnel is being constructed for municipal wastewater management, LAFD said.

"Tonight we were lucky," Villanueva said.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who also spoke at the news conference, thanked first responders and called the rescue a "victory."

Workers climbed over