The driveway of a luxurious mansion in Malibu, reportedly owned by actor Nicolas Cage, collapsed on Tuesday morning due to a massive sinkhole formation. The incident led to a gas leak around 6 a.m., prompting swift responses from 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 as a precaution against coastal erosion.
Authorities stated that the sinkhole measures approximately 7.5 to nine meters in depth and spans 18 meters wide, extending 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 attempts to reach out, representatives for Cage did not provide immediate comments. Property records indicate that the mansion was sold in 2024, with the previous owner confirming Cage as the buyer during the sale.
The mansion suffered damage during a coastal flooding advisory in the Los Angeles area following the residual effects of Hurricane Marie, which had transitioned back to 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.
The City of Malibu highlighted that the sinkhole incident is part of broader regional coastal challenges, addressing ongoing coastal erosion concerns along various vulnerable points, including the Pacific Coast Highway and Point Dume State Beach.
Situated between the ocean and the renowned Pacific Coast Highway, the private neighborhood where the mansion is located experienced the sinkhole event. 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 earned an Oscar for his role in “Leaving Las Vegas.”