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Do people live in tunnels underground?

Mole people (also called tunnel people or tunnel dwellers) are homeless people living under large cities in abandoned subway, railroad, flood, sewage tunnels, and heating shafts.



Yes, thousands of people around the world live in underground tunnels, a phenomenon often driven by extreme poverty, homelessness, and a lack of affordable housing in major urban centers. One of the most well-documented examples is in Las Vegas, where hundreds of individuals reside in the vast network of flood channels and storm drains beneath the city. These "tunnel dwellers" create makeshift homes with beds, furniture, and battery-powered lights, though they face constant risks from flash flooding and poor sanitation. Similar communities exist in the abandoned subway and utility tunnels of New York City, famously referred to in literature as "Mole People." In some parts of the world, underground living is a cultural or environmental choice rather than a necessity; for example, in Coober Pedy, Australia, residents live in "dugouts" to escape the scorching desert heat, and in Cappadocia, Turkey, ancient underground cities are still partially utilized. While urban underground living is often a sign of social crisis in 2026, it highlights the resilience and adaptability of humans who seek shelter in the most unconventional and hidden spaces of the modern world.

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Turkey's Cappadocia region contains hundreds of underground cities. Derinkuyu happens to be the deepest and most intricate. It is capable of hiding 20,000 people within the tunnels and chambers carved out of volcanic rock. On the outside, the entrance looks almost completely hidden and easily missed.

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