Sinkhole at Nicolas Cage's Malibu mansion forces 31 home evacuations
A 30-foot sinkhole caused by coastal erosion opened under Nicolas Cage's beachfront driveway in Malibu, severing utilities and prompting emergency evacuations across 31 properties.
Driveway collapse in Malibu
A sinkhole opened beneath the driveway of a beachfront residence owned by actor Nicolas Cage in Malibu, California, early on Tuesday morning around 5:45 a.m. The collapse developed following a Labor Day holiday weekend of high tides, heavy rainfall, and large ocean swells generated by offshore Post-tropical Cyclone Marie. Municipal officials stated that while the collapse was reported early Tuesday, ground movement likely began developing a day earlier. By Tuesday evening, the erosion cavity measured roughly 30 feet (7.5 meters) deep and 30 by 60 feet (9 by 18 meters) wide, extending from the roadway edge down to the beach. Seawater surged directly between the subterranean support pillars beneath the four-level structure, while asphalt, concrete fragments, fencing, and a portable construction toilet tumbled into the chasm.
- Coastal storm Marie generates heavy surf and high tides along the Malibu shoreline
- Driveway collapses at Nicolas Cage beachfront home, rupturing an underground gas line
- Utility crews secure the gas leak and officials close access to five homes
- City of Malibu declares emergency and expands evacuations to 31 properties
Utility disruptions and road closure
The collapse severed an underground natural gas pipeline, causing a leak that prompted firefighters and utility crews to respond shortly before 6:00 a.m. Southern California Gas Company isolated and secured the leak several hours later, cutting off natural gas service along an 85-foot (26-meter) stretch of the road as a precaution against continuing coastal erosion. The structural failure also damaged local sewer lines, and municipal authorities warned residents that public water service could be shut off until further notice. Because the collapse removed a large section of the street in the private enclave between the Pacific Coast Highway and the ocean, the remaining asphalt became too narrow for emergency vehicles to navigate.
Emergency personnel access is severely constrained and may be impassable, due to the large portion of the road that has collapsed.
Evacuation orders and emergency declaration
City building inspectors initially barred residents from entering five homes closest to the collapse site on Tuesday morning to evaluate structural stability. As coastal waves continued to hollow out the embankment, the City of Malibu declared a local emergency by Tuesday evening and widened the mandatory evacuation zone to encompass 31 properties. The American Red Cross set up an emergency shelter at Malibu High School to accommodate displaced residents from the neighborhood. Municipal leaders emphasized that fire engines and heavy emergency equipment could no longer reach the isolated properties along the damaged corridor.
- Tuesday morning
- 5 properties
- Tuesday evening
- 31 properties
The intact portion of the roadway is too narrow to accommodate emergency response vehicles, including fire engines and other large apparatus, creating a substantial risk to public safety and emergency response capabilities.
Storm Marie and property background
The collapse occurred under a coastal flood advisory issued by the National Weather Service for Southern California, with rough waters whipped up by Cyclone Marie and elevated by active El Niño conditions in the Pacific Ocean. Although the National Hurricane Center forecast that the cyclone would dissipate over the open sea within two days, local officials warned that high tides and surf would continue to batter the coastline. Property records show the four-level, nearly 4,000-square-foot house was purchased by Cage in 2024 for $10.5 million (around 9 million euros). The house was unoccupied at the time of the collapse, and representatives for the 62-year-old actor did not immediately reply to requests for comment.
