A massive sinkhole opened up in front of a luxury beachfront mansion in Malibu, reportedly 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 swiftly responding to the situation. SoCalGas confirmed that the gas leak was contained after a few hours, but as a precautionary measure against coastal erosion, natural gas services were temporarily halted for a section of the street.
Authorities reported that the sinkhole, spanning 7.5 to nine meters in depth and 18 meters in width, extended into the roadway. In response to the situation, a local emergency was declared, and an evacuation order was issued for 31 properties in the vicinity.
Despite requests for comment, representatives for Nicolas Cage have not yet responded. Property records indicate that the mansion was sold in 2024, with the previous owner revealing Cage as the buyer to The New York Times.
The mansion sustained damage during a coastal flooding advisory in the Los Angeles area following the effects of Hurricane Marie, which had transitioned back into a tropical storm. Although the storm did not make landfall, it brought rainfall and generated hazardous waves along the Southern California coast over the holiday weekend.
In a statement on Wednesday, the City of Malibu acknowledged the broader coastal challenges in the region, including monitoring coastal erosion in various areas. The private neighborhood, where the incident occurred, is situated between the ocean and the renowned Pacific Coast Highway.
Nicolas Cage, aged 62, recently featured in the Amazon series “Spider-Noir” and is set to portray John Madden in an upcoming biographical film about the NFL figure later this year. With a career spanning over 100 films, Cage garnered an Oscar for his role in “Leaving Las Vegas.”