A massive sinkhole emerged in front of a luxury mansion in Malibu reportedly linked to 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. SoCalGas confirmed the gas leak was contained after a few hours but decided to temporarily cut off natural gas services in the vicinity as a precaution against coastal erosion.
The sinkhole, measuring approximately 7.5 to nine meters deep and 18 meters wide, extends into the roadway, prompting local authorities to declare a state of emergency. An evacuation order was issued for 31 properties in the affected area. Records indicate the property was sold in 2024, with the previous owner confirming Cage as the buyer.
The mansion suffered damage during a coastal flooding advisory in the Los Angeles area due to the aftermath of Hurricane Marie, which transitioned back into a tropical storm. Although the storm did not directly hit the coast, it brought heavy rainfall and hazardous waves along the Southern California shoreline over the holiday weekend.
The City of Malibu highlighted that this incident is part of broader coastal issues affecting the region. The city is closely monitoring erosion along the Pacific Coast Highway, particularly in areas like the Palisades Fire burn zone and Point Dume State Beach, along with other vulnerable coastal points.
Situated between the ocean and the famous Pacific Coast Highway, the private neighborhood where the mansion is located faced this unforeseen geological event. Nicolas Cage, aged 62, recently starred 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 prolific acting career spanning over 100 films, Cage earned an Oscar for his role in “Leaving Las Vegas.”