MALIBU, Calif. – The Malibu beachfront home of actor Nicolas Cage was damaged after a massive sinkhole formed in the driveway.
What we know:
Los Angeles County Fire Department crews responded early Tuesday morning to the 31600 block of Sea Level Drive East after the driveway gave in.
The fire department said the collapse was caused by severe coastal erosion. The sinkhole was estimated to be about 30 feet by 30 feet.
Officials confirmed the home was unoccupied at the time and no injuries were reported.
Local emergency declared
Local perspective:
The collapse of the driveway also caused a gas leak. The city issued evacuation orders for 31 nearby homes. All 31 properties were red-tagged.
By Tuesday evening, the City of Malibu declared a local emergency citing public safety concerns as an expanding sinkhole restricts access for residents and emergency services.
Officials say conditions are likely to worsen with forecasted high tides and rain. A Coastal Flood Advisory was issued until 11 p.m. Tuesday. A temporary shelter was established at Malibu High School.
What’s next:
According to the city, the HOA, which controls the private roadway, began repairs within hours of the incident. Repairs are expected to be completed in about five weeks, the city added.
What they’re saying:
“The City’s Building Safety Division and Southern California Gas Company will continue to assess the situation to determine safety concerns for the surrounding area, and will provide updates as they become available. The City is actively monitoring and responding to coastal erosion issues in areas including Pacific Coast Highway in the Palisades Fire burn area and at Westward Beach due to strong waves and high tides, in close collaboration with partner agencies. The City 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,” the City of Malibu posted on X.
Cage purchased the home in 2024 for a reported $10.5 million.
The Source: Information for this story came from the LA County Fire Department, LA County Sheriff’s Department and the City of Malibu.
