The collapse damaged gas and water lines as Malibu officials ordered evacuations and declared a local emergency along Sea Level Drive.
MALIBU, CA — A driveway at an oceanfront property owned by actor Nicolas Cage collapsed into a large sinkhole Tuesday morning as coastal erosion undermined the area, damaging utility lines and eventually prompting Malibu officials to order evacuations along a private coastal road.
Los Angeles County firefighters and sheriff’s deputies responded to the 31600 block of Sea Level Drive in western Malibu at about 5:45 a.m. Sept. 8 after a report of a damaged gas line. The city initially said five homes had been red-tagged, prohibiting entry, while building safety officials and Southern California Gas Co. crews assessed the unstable area. By Tuesday evening, the city had declared a local emergency and ordered people from affected properties to evacuate because the expanding sinkhole was restricting access for residents and emergency crews.
The damaged property is owned by Cage, according to public property records reviewed by The Associated Press and other news organizations. The home was vacant when emergency crews arrived, according to fire officials. No injuries were reported. A representative for Cage did not immediately comment on the damage, according to published reports. The actor purchased the beachfront property in 2024.
Fire officials said erosion beneath the property damaged both a water line and a natural gas line. SoCalGas shut off the affected gas service while crews worked at the scene. The utility told The Associated Press that the leak was brought under control and that natural gas service was temporarily shut off along an approximately 85-foot section of the street as a precaution while coastal conditions remained unstable.
Aerial footage from the area showed a large section of pavement and driveway missing near the ocean, with waves breaking against the shoreline below the homes. Crews were seen working beneath the remaining driveway structure and placing sandbags in an effort to limit additional erosion. The Los Angeles Times reported that the opening was estimated at about 30 feet by 30 feet earlier Tuesday, though the city later warned that the sinkhole was continuing to expand.
The emergency extended beyond the damage at Cage’s property. Malibu officials said the sinkhole near 31630 Sea Level Drive was limiting what they described as vital access for people living on the private road and for emergency vehicles. Malibu’s director of emergency services declared a local emergency in consultation with the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff’s deputies notified affected residents in person, while the city sent a digital evacuation alert.
The American Red Cross began establishing a temporary shelter at Malibu High School for people affected by the evacuation order, according to the city. Officials did not immediately specify how many residents had left their homes or how long the evacuation would remain in effect. Building safety teams continued evaluating properties along Sea Level Drive for additional structural concerns.
The collapse occurred as powerful surf and high tides battered portions of the Southern California coastline. The National Weather Service had placed the Malibu coast, Los Angeles County beaches, Ventura County beaches and nearby islands under coastal flood and high surf advisories through Tuesday night. Forecasters warned that elevated surf could produce dangerous breaking waves, flooding in vulnerable low-lying areas and significant beach erosion.
Conditions were associated with the remnants of Hurricane Marie, which generated elevated surf and coastal flooding as the system affected Southern California. Malibu officials said they were also monitoring erosion at other vulnerable locations, including portions of Pacific Coast Highway in the Palisades Fire burn area and Westward Beach. The city warned that high tides and additional rain could worsen conditions around the Sea Level Drive sinkhole.
As of early Wednesday, evacuation orders remained the central safety measure for affected properties while authorities monitored the unstable ground and access road. Officials had not announced when residents would be allowed to return or what repairs would be required at Cage’s property and neighboring homes.
Author note: Last updated September 9, 2026.