On September 8, 2026, Malibu declared a local emergency following the appearance of a large sinkhole at Nicolas Cage’s oceanfront residence. The Los Angeles County Fire and Sheriff’s departments arrived at the scene of the 31600 block of Sea Level Drive at approximately 5:45 a.m.
According to property records, the residence is owned by the actor known for his roles in ‘Spider-Noir’ and ‘Pig’. The expanding sinkhole, by evening, measured roughly 25 feet deep and 30 by 60 feet wide. Authorities expressed concerns about worsening conditions due to high tides and rain brought by Tropical Storm Marie.
The emergency declaration highlighted the imminent danger to nearby homes in the gated community adjacent to Lechuza Beach. Seven homes were red-tagged for hazardous conditions, while 24 more were red-tagged due to impaired safe vehicle access.
The city stressed that emergency personnel access is severely affected, as a large section of the roadway collapsed. The remaining portion is too narrow for emergency vehicles like fire engines, posing a significant risk to public safety and emergency response capabilities.
Malibu High School, located at 30215 Morning View Drive, opened as a temporary shelter for affected residents. Gas services were suspended, with possible discontinuation of water services based on evolving conditions.
The duration of the evacuation order remains uncertain. The National Weather Service issued high surf and coastal flood advisories until 11 p.m. Tuesday, impacting Malibu coast, L.A. County beaches, Catalina and Santa Barbara islands, and Ventura County beaches.
Expected conditions included breaking waves of 4 to 7 feet and local waves reaching up to 8 feet. Dangerous currents and life-threatening situations were anticipated, along with significant beach erosion and flooding during high tides.
The city cited the risks posed by this fall and winter’s El Niño event. A strengthening ‘super’ El Niño could lead to record sea levels, severe coastal flooding, and noticeable beach narrowing along California’s coast.
Nicolas Cage is acclaimed for his Oscar-winning role in ‘Leaving Las Vegas’. His Prime Video series ‘Spider-Noir’, despite being favored during awards season, faced cancellation.
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