Emergency crews are actively working to rescue two trapped construction workers in a trench at a Catonsville home, officials said.

The Baltimore County Fire Department responded to the residential area in the 500 block of Academy Road shortly before noon on Friday after a retaining wall next to the trench collapsed, trapping the two workers.

More than three hours later, officials said the two people are still in the trench in “extreme critical” condition as the rescue mission continues.

Kevin Van Valkenburg, a neighbor, told The Banner he was working from his upstairs office when he heard a huge rumbling that sounded “like a small earthquake.”

Van Valkenburg knew a construction crew had been digging a trench around a side of his neighbor’s house, so he jogged downstairs to try and see what had happened.

Outside, he said he heard screaming from the guys on the crew and saw them scrambling to dig at the rocks that had collapsed.

“It was clear that something bad had happened,” Van Valkenburg said.

He called 911 for the foreman, who told him there were two guys trapped. Van Valkenburg said the neighbors were really nice people who had some sort of crack or issue they are trying to take care of in their home.

“It seems like it’s going to take a long time to sort out,” he said.

A photo shared by the department shows crews outside a house that is partially collapsed and cordoned off with caution tape.

Allison Shultz, who lives on Stratford Road, told The Banner she started hearing the sirens around 11:30 a.m.

She has never seen so many emergency vehicles at once, she said.

Shultz has never seen anyone living in that house. Workers dug a hole about a week ago.

Construction workers were atop of the pile of dirt as they waited for rescue workers to arrive.

One worker began to cry loudly as first responders put a red tarp by the hole.

Baltimore City and Howard County rescue teams are assisting. The Baltimore Gas and Electric Company also responded to the scene.

This is a developing story.