Following a significant collapse caused by giant waves on the driveway of actor Nicolas Cage’s seaside residence in Malibu, a local emergency operations center was established. The center, which had been in operation since Friday, September 11, has now ceased operations but mandatory evacuation orders for 31 homes are still in effect.
According to city news reports, Cage purchased a seaside residence on Sea Level Drive in the East 31600 block for a reported price of 10.5 million dollars in 2024. On Tuesday, Hurricane Marie brought massive waves that severely impacted parts of Southern California’s coastline, breaching sandbanks and seawalls. The waves damaged Cage’s driveway, creating a large collapse, and posed a threat to the safety of structures along Sea Level Drive and surrounding areas, prompting Malibu to declare a state of emergency.
Officials stated that no one was residing in the residence at the time of the collapse, and there were no injuries as a result of the incident.
The collapsed driveway extended onto the road, blocking access for residents and emergency response personnel. Southern California Gas Company shut down gas service in the area on Tuesday evening to prevent any further leaks. The 29th Water District also shut off water supply to prevent any ruptures in the water mains.
The city government declared a state of emergency and issued evacuation orders for 31 properties. As per a statement released by the Malibu City Hall on Friday, the 31 affected properties are still under mandatory evacuation orders and marked with red caution signs until the situation is deemed safe.
The statement read: “Evacuation is a necessary measure as Sea Level Drive is the only access point in and out of the affected area. With the road currently eroded, normal access to and from the community is not possible. In case of emergencies, there will also be no viable routes for passage or evacuation.”
The affected homeowners’ association is responsible for overseeing repair works, while the city government will continue to monitor the site and assess safety conditions.
On Wednesday, Malibu City Hall stated that there have been no significant enlargements in the collapse and ground erosion overnight. Officials estimate that the repair works will take approximately five weeks to complete.
The city government also mentioned that they are actively monitoring and addressing coastal erosion issues in other areas, including sections of the Pacific Coast Highway within the Palisades Fire burn area and Westward Beach. These areas are being affected by strong waves and high tides, and the city is closely coordinating with relevant agencies to address the situation.