A massive sinkhole appeared in front of a lavish coastal residence in Malibu, reportedly owned by actor Nicolas Cage, causing the driveway to collapse. The incident triggered a gas leak early Tuesday morning, prompting swift responses from authorities and utility services. SoCalGas managed to control the leak after a few hours but decided to temporarily halt natural gas services in the vicinity to safeguard against coastal erosion concerns.
The sinkhole, measuring approximately 7.5 to nine meters deep and 18 meters wide, extends into the street. Following the event, a local emergency was declared, with evacuation orders issued for 31 properties in the affected area as a precautionary measure.
Despite efforts to reach out for comments, representatives for Cage remained silent. Property records indicate that the mansion was sold in 2024, with the previous owner confirming Cage as the buyer during the transaction.
The mansion suffered damage during a coastal flooding advisory in the Los Angeles area due to the aftermath of Marie, a former hurricane turned tropical storm. While the storm did not directly hit land, it brought heavy rains and hazardous waves along the Southern California coastline during the holiday weekend.
The City of Malibu stated on Wednesday that the sinkhole incident is reflective of broader regional coastal challenges. The city is closely monitoring coastal erosion in various vulnerable areas along the coastline, including the Palisades Fire burn zone and Point Dume State Beach.
Situated between the Pacific Coast Highway and the ocean, the private neighborhood where the mansion is located witnessed the sinkhole event. Nicolas Cage, aged 62, recently starred in the Amazon series “Spider-Noir” and is set to portray John Madden in an upcoming biopic about the NFL figure later this year. With a prolific career spanning over 100 films, Cage earned an Oscar for his role in “Leaving Las Vegas.”