A sinkhole opened up in front of a coastal mansion in Malibu, believed to be owned by actor Nicolas Cage, causing the driveway to collapse. The incident led to a gas leak early Tuesday morning, with authorities and a utility company promptly responding to the situation. SoCalGas managed to control the leak several hours later but decided to temporarily shut off natural gas services in the area due to concerns about coastal erosion.
The sinkhole, measuring approximately 7.5 to nine meters deep and 18 meters wide, extends into the roadway. Following the event, local authorities declared a state of emergency and issued an evacuation order for 31 properties in the vicinity. Despite requests for comment, representatives for Cage did not provide immediate responses. Property records indicate that the mansion was sold in 2024, with the previous owner confirming Cage as the buyer.
The mansion sustained damage during a coastal flooding advisory in the Los Angeles area, attributed to the residual effects of Hurricane Marie transitioning into a tropical storm. Although the storm did not directly hit land, it brought heavy rainfall and generated hazardous waves along the Southern California coast over the holiday weekend.
The City of Malibu released a statement on Wednesday, highlighting the broader regional coastal challenges faced, including monitoring coastal erosion along the Pacific Coast Highway and other vulnerable coastal points. Situated between the ocean and the Pacific Coast Highway, the private neighborhood where the mansion is located witnessed the sinkhole incident.
Nicolas Cage, aged 62, recently featured in the Amazon series “Spider-Noir” and is set to portray NFL coach and commentator John Madden in an upcoming biographical film. With a career spanning over 100 films, Cage was honored with an Oscar for his role in “Leaving Las Vegas.”