Breaking News Alert: People Trapped In Underground Tunnel At Border
Last Updated: 10-10-06 at 8:44AMSeveral people are trapped in an underground tunnel in San Ysidro Tuesday morning. That tunnel connects Mexico to the U.S.
There are dozens of firefighters on the scene, as well as Border Patrol officers. They are using hand tools to try and dig out the people who are trapped.
At about 7:10 a.m. Tuesday, San Diego Firefighters received a call that seven people were trapped in a tunnel near the border crossing in Otay Mesa.
Two people have been rescued, but there are still five people trapped inside, according to a News 8 live report.
There is no word yet on the condition of anyone trapped in the tunnel
5 People Trapped In Cross-Border Tunnel
POSTED: 7:38 am PDT October 10, 2006
UPDATED: 8:42 am PDT October 10, 2006SAN DIEGO -- Rescue crews are trying to free 5 people trapped in a tunnel near the U.S.-Mexico border, officials said.
The San Diego Fire Department received a call from Border Patrol officers at about 7:15 a.m. Tuesday, fire department spokesman Maurice Luque said. The officers reported that the people were trapped in the tunnel that surfaces behind an industrial building in the 10000 block of Via de la Amistad in the Otay Mesa area. The officers said the tunnel appeared to run across the border, which is about a quarter of a mile to the south.
Rescuers said the tunnel has not collapsed, but the opening is quite small. They are trying to enlarge the exit and free the people who remain inside, Luque said.
Border Patrol officers apparently had the tunnel exit under surveillance and saw two people exit the tunnel at about 7 a.m., Luque said. They went to arrest the young man and woman, both in their 20s, and discovered that another man had become jammed in the tunnel opening, trapping four others behind him, Luque said.
Rescue crews were trying to enlarge the concrete exit hole with jackhammers, Luque said.
The two people who had exited the tunnel were taken into custody by Border Patrol officers, Luque said.
Refresh this story for the latest information on this developing story.
San Diego taxpayers footing the bill to rescue drug smugglers.
Kind of off the subject, but what tunnel isn't "underground"? ;-P
There goes more U.S. tax money pissed down the sewer.