An enormous sinkhole measuring up to 60 feet wide and 25 feet deep collapsed a beachfront driveway on Sea Level Drive in Malibu, according to local officials and city emergency announcements. The disaster, triggered by heavy surf from the remnants of Hurricane Marie as reported by the National Weather Service, forced mandatory evacuations across 31 properties in the exclusive coastal enclave where actor Nicolas Cage owns a $10.5 million cliff-top mansion.
Malibu Sinkhole Threatens Celebrity Real Estate and Infrastructure
The structural failure began around 5:45 a.m., according to local reporting, when a beachfront driveway collapsed and the erosion quickly spread into the private roadway. By Tuesday evening, the crater reached an estimated 25 to 30 feet deep and up to 60 feet wide, swallowing broken asphalt, concrete, and construction debris. Photographs of the site showed a portable toilet and other materials from ongoing renovations sitting near the edge of the multi-million dollar property, which Cage purchased in 2024. According to Los Angeles magazine coverage, nearby residents initially thought an initial 8-foot depression discovered on Monday could be fixed quickly before “all hell broke loose” in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Evacuations and Red-Tagged Properties in Sea Level Drive
The City of Malibu declared a local emergency and issued a mandatory evacuation order for all affected properties along Sea Level Drive, a private road with a single entry and exit point. According to the City of Malibu, the City of Malibu red-tagged all 31 parcels in the enclave. Seven homes were restricted due to direct hazardous conditions from the sinkhole, while another 24 properties were red-tagged because the collapsed roadway left fire trucks, ambulances, and sheriff’s vehicles unable to safely reach residents. SoCalGas confirmed that emergency crews responded to secure a gas leak caused by the initial structural failure in the early hours of Tuesday morning, while sheriff’s deputies and digital alerts notified residents to evacuate.
Did you know? Sea Level Drive runs alongside Broad Beach, a star-studded stretch of Malibu real estate where celebrities including Pierce Brosnan, Dustin Hoffman, Ray Romano, Danny DeVito, Valerie Bertinelli, and Mindy Kaling own homes.
Pacific Storms and Climate Factors Driving Coastal Erosion
Meteorologist Richard Thompson of the National Weather Service told AFP that coastal waters were severely roiled by the remnants of Hurricane Marie, producing wave heights of 10 to 15 feet and significant beach erosion over several days. The severe surf followed Hurricane Lowell lashing Hawaii with damaging winds and floods. According to scientific observations cited in the reporting, a near-record-strength El Nino climate episode is currently warming Pacific Ocean waters and promoting powerful storm formation, with scientists noting that human-caused climate heating can magnify these natural phenomena.
Southern California infrastructure has faced compounding threats from the heavy surf. South of Los Angeles in Dana Point, truckloads of boulders were placed along a stretch of beach to protect properties where seven homes have already been declared uninhabitable, with one partially collapsing into the sea, according to regional reports.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the Malibu sinkhole near Nicolas Cage’s home?
According to reports from the Associated Press and local officials, the sinkhole grew to an estimated 25 to 30 feet deep and up to 60 feet wide by Tuesday evening, encompassing the driveway of the Sea Level Drive property.
Why were homes evacuated on Sea Level Drive?
The City of Malibu issued a mandatory evacuation order and red-tagged 31 parcels because the massive crater and damaged roadway cut off emergency vehicle access for fire trucks and ambulances, creating severe safety hazards.
What caused the Malibu coastal damage?
According to the National Weather Service, the damage was driven by heavy surf and swells of 10 to 15 feet generated by the remnants of Hurricane Marie coinciding with seasonal coastal erosion.
Is Nicolas Cage’s Malibu mansion damaged?
Reporting indicates the actor’s four-level, 3,900-square-foot oceanfront mansion sits perilously close to the crater left by the collapsed driveway, though no official comment has been released regarding structural damage to the house itself.
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