Meet TikTok’s TUNNEL girl: 37-year-old woman who has spent $50,000 building an underground passage beneath her home for over a YEAR to keep herself ‘entertained’ becomes a viral star by documenting her bizarre DIY project

• US-based Kala began the unusual DIY project at her suburban property in 2022
• It is now 30ft long and 22ft deep, and she intends to use it as a storm shelter
• Kala, who has no formal background in engineering, began it for ‘entertainment’ 

A 37-year-old woman who has been building a ‘tunnel system’ under her home for more than a year has become a viral sensation on TikTok.

US-based Kala, who has no formal background in engineering, began the unusual DIY project at her suburban property in August 2022.

She has since spent $50,000 on creating the 30ft-long and 22ft-deep bunker, which she intends to use as a storm shelter.

Kala, who said she took on the build to keep ‘preoccupied and entertained,’ has now become well-known on the video-sharing platform as ‘tunnel girl’ and boasts more than 332,000 followers. 

US-based Kala, who has been building a ‘tunnel system’ under her home for more than a year, has become a viral sensation on TikTok

The social media star, who has no formal background in engineering, began the unusual DIY project at her suburban property in August 2022

Kala, who studied business and finance in school, explained how she began the excavation project by ‘cutting an opening’ into the wall of her sub-basement.

She then carved into the solid rock and fabricated an elevator to lift the debris up to the surface.

The self-taught builder then laid hundreds of concrete blocks using hand-mixed concrete to create a 30ft entrance tunnel.

Next on her list was installing an air duct for ventilation and cementing the structure to create a vaulted ceiling.

Speaking to NBC about completing almost all the work herself, she said: ‘It doesn’t take much for me to pick up a skill.

‘I can often learn skills just by doing it with minimal instruction.’

Discussing her motivations, she told the publication: ‘I wouldn’t say doomsday bunker, because I’m not really a prepper or concerned about that kind of thing at all, but I just thought it would be neat to have like a little protective shelter area.

‘And so I started working on that. And also it’s a challenge and I live for challenges. 

‘It keeps me preoccupied and keeps me entertained.’

Kala, who studied business and finance in school, explained how the excavation project began as she ‘cut an opening’ into the wall of her sub-basement

She then carved into the solid rock and fabricated an elevator to lift the debris up to the surface

But Kala has faced a whole host of issues including dealing with standing ground water and battling a blaze that was ’caused by welding steel forms.’ 

‘I wouldn’t say that I’m concerned about safety or structural stability,’ she added. 

‘For the most part, 99.9 per cent, everything has gone according to plan and according to my engineering. There have been a few very, very minor mishaps.’

In her recent one-year recap video, Kala laid bare the works she had carried out so far, which left many other social media users stunned.

One wrote: ‘Are we… are we allowed to build tunnels.’

Another added: ‘I love how clearly skilled you are in engineering and fabrication but this still scares me for your safety.’

She has since spent $50,000 on creating the 30ft-long and 22ft-deep bunker, which she intends to use as a storm shelter

In her recent one-year recap video, Kala laid bare the works she had carried out so far, which left many other social media users stunned

And a third said: ‘Welp, I’m fully invested. Do we have a goal, or are we just expressing ourselves through tunneling?’

Kala has not disclosed details about the building permits she secured before carrying out the work, but adds she is following the rules for her local jurisdiction. 

She expects that it will take at least another six months to finalize the daring design.

But Kala, who works in information technology, is no stranger to large building projects.

She previously erected a four-story addition to the back of her house and hopes to one day build a castle.

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