Endless Thread Rewind: Digging Deep with TikTok's "tunnel girl"
Apr 3, 2026
Caitlin Harrop, journalist and producer who reported the Tunnel Girl story, walks through Kala’s viral TikTok project and its rise to scrutiny. She explores the scope of the subterranean build. Short segments cover safety concerns, neighbors’ reactions, a stop-work order, and what happened when Kala disappeared from and later returned to TikTok.
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Solo Suburban Tunnel Project Documented On TikTok
- Caitlin Harrop describes Kella (TikTok handle engineer.everything) digging a storm-shelter-turned-tunnel under her Northern Virginia suburban home.
- Kella posted 200+ TikToks showing rebar, concrete ceilings, welding, and solo excavation that built follower enthusiasm and technical scrutiny.
Three Distinct Online Reactions To Risky DIY Work
- The TikTok response split into three camps: cheerleaders, skeptics, and technical advisors offering construction corrections.
- That mix turned the project into both a community learning feed and a crowdsourced safety review.
Safety Problems And Permit Questions Emerged
- Viewers flagged safety issues: an underground welding fire, electrical sparking, falling rock, and unlicensed electrical work.
- Commenters worried about neighbor impact and whether she held required permits for subterranean construction.