Malibu's coastline once again proved it has a mind of its own this week, with pounding surf opening a sizable sinkhole that initially swallowed part of a driveway along Sea Level Drive. The incident, which began at the beachfront home of actor Nicolas Cage, quickly escalated into a local emergency, prompting evacuations and road closures as the sinkhole continued to expand.
Los Angeles County Fire Department crews were called to the 31600 block of Sea Level Drive East, near Point Lechuza, around 5:45 a.m. on Tuesday. There, they found that high waves had not only created a massive sinkhole in the driveway but had also ruptured a gas main. The Southern California Gas Company (SoCal Gas) was immediately summoned to shut off the gas. A fire department spokesman confirmed the situation, noting, "There is a sinkhole there, but the home is not occupied."
Both the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the county fire department responded, leading to the closure of the private road. Images from the scene depicted one end of a driveway collapsed, with a large section of pavement giving way to the sinkhole. Malibu’s Building Safety Division and SoCal Gas commenced working to assess the situation, leading to five homes in the area being red-tagged, which prohibits entry.
Malibu city officials stated that the Building Safety Division and Southern California Gas Company would "continue to assess the situation to determine safety concerns for the surrounding area." As conditions worsened and the sinkhole expanded, restricting access for residents and emergency services, the city declared a local emergency. This declaration was issued by Malibu’s director of emergency services, in consultation with the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department.
Officials warned that the situation could deteriorate further, citing high tides and rain associated with former Hurricane Marie as contributing factors. Sheriff’s deputies took to notifying affected residents in person, while the city simultaneously issued a digital evacuation alert. To assist those displaced, the American Red Cross established a temporary shelter at Malibu High School, located at 30215 Morning View Drive.
The incident highlights broader concerns along the Southern California coast. Malibu officials also indicated they are "actively monitoring and responding to coastal erosion issues" in other areas, including Pacific Coast Highway in the Palisades Fire burn area and at Westward Beach. These efforts are being conducted in close collaboration with partner agencies, spurred by strong waves and high tides. City officials stated that Malibu is "preparing for potential strong storms, strong waves, heavy rain, mudslides and coastal erosion that are possible along the entire Southern California coast due to the forecast strong El Niño conditions."
Actor Nicolas Cage had purchased the affected home in 2024 for a reported $10.5 million.
