Virginia city shuts down TikToker's tunneling project: Viral star racks up millions of views while excavating a room 20 feet beneath her own home

A self-proclaimed “engineer” who went viral on TikTok for building a tunnel system 20 feet beneath her home has been told to pump the brakes on her passion project.

The 37-year-old Virginia woman, whose name is Kala, was asked by the city of Herndon to wait to build a storm shelter under her home until she obtained the necessary permits.

In a video posted on December 28, Kala confirmed that she had received a stop work order and that her project needed “immediate review by a professional engineer.”

“Luckily, contrary to rumors here, it was built entirely under the floor of my house and it shouldn't be too difficult to get the permits and approval,” she said.

The 37-year-old has amassed more than 530,000 followers on the video-sharing platform, and her most popular uploads number in the millions.

The influencer, who has no formal background in engineering, has racked up millions of views on TikTok videos of her stacking concrete blocks, welding and moving dirt.

Neighbors say they are concerned about the noise and concerned that her apparent lack of safety measures could pose a risk to those around her

'It's a bit crazy. Pretty funny, I'm not going to lie,” said a neighbor FOX 5.

“But I definitely worry about whatever she does and likes, the area around us being dirt and all. I just have to make sure she doesn't damage any property in the area.”

Another neighbor told me WUSA9 that the woman was a hermit who mainly kept to herself.

“It is concerning that there is a lot of noise being made during the day,” he said, adding that it was nothing that would prompt him to “call the authorities.”

However, the man said he was “a little concerned” about the lack of safety measures she appeared to be taking and was concerned her recklessness could endanger his or his neighbors' lives.

Kala, who has asked news media not to share her last name, began filming her trial in 2022.

She can be seen stacking cinder blocks, moving dirt and welding metal in a dimly lit tunnel beneath her home.

Her most popular video on the platform, a 'summary' of her past year of work, was viewed more than 7.5 million times.

The thumbnail shows her standing at the mouth of the tunnel with the caption: 'Should I go deeper?'

TikTok has flagged several videos with a warning: “The actions in this video were performed by professionals or under the supervision of professionals. Do not try.'

The 37-year-old says she is working on building a storm shelter and began filming the process in 2022. She has spent more than $50,000 on the project so far.

The city issued her a cease and desist order and advised that the project needed an “immediate review by a professional engineer.”

Despite labeling herself as an “engineer” on social media, Kala holds no such license. She studied business administration and finance and works in information technology.

The woman has spent more than $50,000 on the 30-foot tunnel so far, earning the nickname “Tunnel Girl.”

However, it is regularly subject to criticism, with internet users wondering about the risks.

“Imagine your house collapsing because your neighbor is digging a bizarre underground ditch system,” wrote one concerned viewer.

Another commented: 'Why NOT get the permits in advance for such a large project?'

The City of Herndon released a statement saying they had “received a report that activities possibly in violation of the Uniform Statewide Building Code were occurring at a residential property within the City's corporate limits.”

Representatives from the building official and zoning administrator offices conducted an on-site inspection on Dec. 7, as per protocol, the city explained.

Officials “work with the property owner to correct any violations and ensure the property is safe and up to code.”