The city of Malibu has declared a local emergency and issued evacuation orders for 31 homes after a substantial sinkhole opened up in the driveway of a private oceanfront residence. The incident, which occurred on the 31600 block of Sea Level Drive, prompted a response from the Los Angeles County Fire and Sheriff’s departments around 5:45 a.m. Tuesday. Real estate records indicate the property is owned by actor Nicolas Cage, known for his roles in films like “Leaving Las Vegas,” “Pig,” and “Spider-Noir.” A representative for Cage could not be reached for comment regarding the situation.
By Tuesday evening, the sinkhole had grown to an approximate depth of 25 feet and stretched 30 by 60 feet wide, though authorities noted it did not expand further overnight. Despite this temporary halt, conditions are anticipated to worsen, influenced by high tides and rain from Tropical Storm Marie. The city's emergency declaration emphasized the imminent danger the sinkhole poses to adjacent homes within the gated community, which abuts Lechuza Beach. Seven residences were red-tagged due to hazardous conditions directly from the sinkhole, while another 24 homes received red tags because of the complete loss of safe vehicle access.
The integrity of the private roadway on Sea Level Drive has been severely compromised. The city detailed in its emergency declaration that emergency personnel access is severely constrained and may be impassable due to the large portion of the road that has collapsed. The remaining intact portion of the road is too narrow to accommodate essential emergency response vehicles, including fire engines, creating a substantial risk to public safety and emergency response capabilities, according to the city.
In response to the developing situation, critical utilities were also affected. The Southern California Gas Company moved to shut off service Tuesday night to address a gas leak, according to the city. Similarly, Waterworks District 29 cut off water service for the affected properties to prevent potential water main breaks. For residents displaced by the evacuations, a temporary shelter was established at Malibu High School, located at 30215 Morning View Drive.
The homeowners association, which maintains control over the private roadway, began seeking city permits for repairs within hours of the sinkhole’s appearance. These initial repair and shoring efforts are estimated by the city to take up to five weeks, depending on local conditions. Malibu City Manager Joseph Irvin stated that the city is working to support the homeowners association and private road owners. They plan to install mitigation measures, such as sandbags, to minimize further impact. Irvin estimated that the process for permit approvals could take three or four more days, with crews expected to begin debris removal in the sinkhole area and start work next week. He noted that the costs to the city have been minimal, with homeowners bearing most of the expenses.
City Manager Joseph Irvin also placed the event in a broader regional context. He observed that this is likely not “a single, isolated event for Malibu,” explaining that coastal erosion impacts are being observed up and down the Southern California coastal region. Irvin linked these issues to high tides, El Niño-type weather patterns, and sea level rise. The city’s emergency declaration itself highlighted the dangers of further coastal erosion, specifically mentioning that a strengthening “super” El Niño brings a high risk of record sea levels, severe coastal flooding, and dramatic beach narrowing to the California coast this winter.
The National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood advisory, which remains in effect until 11 p.m. Wednesday. This advisory warns of minor coastal flooding from high tides potentially affecting beaches in Orange and San Diego counties, with impacts ranging from flooded parking lots and parks to roads. Specifically, Newport Beach is anticipating waves of up to 6.3 feet around 8:45 p.m. Post-Tropical Cyclone Marie is also expected to continue generating swells that will affect portions of the Baja California Peninsula and Southern California coast for the next couple of days, contributing to high tides and rain that could exacerbate conditions at the sinkhole site.
Irvin reiterated that the construction timeline is approximately four weeks, and that ingress and egress to Sea Level Drive will be continuously evaluated. Residents will be notified as soon as it is deemed safe for them to return to their homes.
