A massive sinkhole emerged in front of a luxurious beachfront estate in Malibu, reportedly owned by Nicolas Cage, causing the driveway to collapse on Tuesday. The incident led to a gas leak early in the morning, which was swiftly addressed by authorities and utility services. SoCalGas managed to control the leak after a few hours but decided to temporarily halt natural gas services in a section of the street to prevent coastal erosion.
The sinkhole, measuring around 7.5 to nine meters deep and 18 meters wide, extended into the roadway, leading officials to declare a local emergency and evacuate 31 properties in the vicinity. The property was sold in 2024, with Cage identified as the buyer by the previous owner, as per property records. Cage’s representatives have not yet responded to inquiries for comments on the incident.
In a related development, the mansion suffered damage during a coastal flooding advisory in the Los Angeles area, caused by the remnants of Hurricane Marie, which transitioned into a tropical storm. While the storm avoided landfall, it brought heavy rainfall and hazardous waves along the Southern California coast over the weekend.
The City of Malibu stated on Wednesday that the sinkhole incident was part of broader regional coastal challenges, highlighting ongoing monitoring efforts along the Pacific Coast Highway and other vulnerable coastal points. The upscale neighborhood, situated between the ocean and the famous highway, faced this environmental setback.
Notably, Cage, aged 62, recently appeared in the Amazon series “Spider-Noir” and is set to portray John Madden in an upcoming biographical film later this year. With a career spanning over 100 films, Cage earned an Oscar for his role in “Leaving Las Vegas.”