A massive sinkhole emerged in front of a luxurious coastal residence in Malibu, reportedly owned by actor Nicolas Cage, causing the driveway to collapse. The incident triggered a gas leak at around 6 a.m. local time, prompting swift responses from authorities and utility services. SoCalGas confirmed that the gas leak was contained after a few hours, but as a precaution due to coastal erosion concerns, natural gas services in a section of the street were temporarily suspended.
Measuring between 7.5 to nine meters deep and 18 meters wide, the sinkhole extended into the roadway, leading officials to declare a local emergency and evacuate 31 properties in the vicinity. Despite requests for comment, representatives of Cage did not provide immediate responses. Records indicate that the property was sold in 2024, with the previous owner revealing Cage as the buyer to the New York Times.
The mansion suffered damage amid a coastal flooding advisory in the Los Angeles area caused by the residual impacts of Hurricane Marie, which had downgraded to a tropical storm. Although the storm did not directly hit the coast, it brought heavy rainfall and generated hazardous waves along Southern California’s shoreline during the holiday weekend.
The City of Malibu stated on Wednesday that the sinkhole incident was linked to broader coastal conditions in the region, emphasizing ongoing monitoring of coastal erosion at various vulnerable points along the coast, including areas near the Palisades Fire burn site and Point Dume State Beach.
Situated between the Pacific Coast Highway and the ocean, the private neighborhood where Cage’s property is located faced the sinkhole event. The 62-year-old actor, known for his roles in numerous films, including an Oscar-winning performance in “Leaving Las Vegas,” recently starred in the Amazon series “Spider-Noir” and is set to portray John Madden in an upcoming biographical film about the NFL coach and commentator.