The city of Malibu declared a local emergency and issued evacuation orders for 31 homes after a massive and expanding sinkhole opened up in the driveway of Nicolas Cage’s oceanfront residence.
The Los Angeles County Fire and Sheriff’s departments responded to the sinkhole at a home on the 31600 block of Sea Level Drive around 5:45 a.m. According to real estate records, the property is owned by the “Spider-Noir” and “Pig” actor. A representative for Cage could not immediately be reached for comment.
By evening, the sinkhole was roughly 25 feet deep and 30 by 60 feet wide. Authorities warned conditions are likely to worsen due to high tides and rain from Tropical Storm Marie.
The city issued an emergency declaration, saying conditions around the sinkhole pose an imminent danger to adjacent homes in the gated community, which abuts Lechuza Beach. Seven residences have been red-tagged due to hazardous conditions while another 24 homes are being red-tagged due to the loss of safe vehicle access, the city said Tuesday evening.
“Emergency personnel access is severely constrained and may be impassable, due to the large portion of the road that has collapsed,” the city wrote in the emergency declaration. “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.”
A temporary shelter was opened at Malibu High School, at 30215 Morning View Drive, for the affected properties.
Gas has been shut off in the affected area, and city officials warn that water service may also be discontinued as conditions warrant.
It’s unclear how long the evacuation order will remain in place.
The National Weather Service has issued high surf and coastal flood advisories until 11 p.m. Tuesday for the Malibu coast, L.A. County beaches, Catalina and Santa Barbara islands and Ventura County beaches.
Large breaking waves of 4 to 7 feet were expected, with local waves of up to 8 feet, according to the weather service. Currents could be dangerous and potentially life-threatening. Significant beach erosion and flooding in low-lying coastal areas during high tide was also expected.
In the emergency declaration, the city also noted the danger of further coastal erosion posed by this fall and winter’s El Niño event.
“A strengthening ‘super’ El Niño brings a high risk of record sea levels, severe coastal flooding, and dramatic beach narrowing to the California coast this winter,” the city wrote.
Cage is an award-winning actor whose accolades include an Oscar and Golden Globe for his role in the 1995 film “Leaving Las Vegas.” His Prime Video series “Spider-Noir,” despite being an awards season favorite, has been canceled.
Times staff writers Jack Flemming and Richard Winton contributed to this report.