A 37-year-old woman who has been building a ‘tunnel system’ under her home for over a year has become a viral sensation on TikTok.
US-based Kala, who has no formal background in engineering, started the unusual DIY project in her suburban home in August 2022.
She has since spent $50,000 creating the 30-foot-long and 20-foot-deep bunker, which she plans to use as a storm shelter.
Kala, who says she took up construction to stay ‘preoccupied and entertained’, has now become known on the video sharing platform as ‘tunnel girl’ and has more than 332,000 followers.
US-based Kala, who has been building a ‘tunnel system’ under her home for over a year, has become a viral sensation on TikTok
The social media star, who has no formal background in engineering, started the unusual DIY project in her suburban home in August 2022.
Kala, who studied business and finance in school, explained how she started the excavation project by “making an opening” in the wall of her sub-basement.
She then carved into the solid rock and created an elevator to lift the rubble to the surface.
The self-taught builder then laid hundreds of concrete blocks with hand-mixed concrete to create a 30-foot-long access tunnel.
Next on her list was installing an air duct for ventilation and cementing the structure to create a vaulted ceiling.
Speak with NBC about completing almost all the work herself, she said, “It doesn’t take much to master 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 prep person or worried about that kind of thing at all, but I just thought it would be fun to Have some protective clothing. shelter area.
‘And so I started working on that. And it is also a challenge and I live for challenges.
“It keeps me busy and entertained.”
Kala, who studied business and finance at school, explained how the excavation project started when she “made an opening” in the wall of her sub-basement
She then carved into the solid rock and created an elevator to lift the rubble to the surface
But Kala has faced a host of problems, including dealing with stagnant groundwater and fighting a fire “caused by welding of steel formwork.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m concerned about safety or structural stability,” she added.
“For the most part, 99.9 percent, everything went according to plan and according to my engineering. There have been some very, very minor accidents.”
In her recent one year recap video, Kala laid bare the works she had done so far, leaving many other social media users baffled.
One wrote: ‘Can we… can we build tunnels?’
Another added: ‘I love how clearly you are skilled in engineering and manufacturing but this still makes me fear for your safety.’
She has since spent $50,000 creating the 30-foot-long and 20-foot-deep bunker, which she plans to use as a storm shelter.
In her recent one year recap video, Kala laid bare the works she had accomplished so far, leaving many other social media users stunned
And a third said: ‘Welp, I’m fully invested in it. Do we have a purpose, or are we just expressing ourselves through tunneling?’
Kala did not reveal details of the building permits she obtained before carrying out the work, but added that she follows the rules of her local jurisdiction.
She expects it will take at least another six months to complete the bold design.
But Kala, who works in information technology, is no stranger to major construction projects.
She previously built a four-storey extension to the back of her house and hopes to one day build a castle.