A sinkhole opened up in front of a coastal mansion believed to be owned by actor Nicolas Cage in Malibu, causing the driveway to collapse. The incident led to a gas leak early Tuesday morning, with authorities and utility services swiftly responding to the situation. SoCalGas, the utility company, managed to secure the leak after a few hours but decided to temporarily cut off natural gas services in part of the street due to concerns about coastal erosion.
The sinkhole, measuring approximately 7.5 to nine meters deep and 18 meters wide, extends into the roadway, prompting local officials to declare a state of emergency and evacuate 31 properties in the vicinity. Despite requests for comment, representatives for Cage did not provide an immediate response. Property records indicate that the mansion was sold in 2024, with the previous owner confirming Cage as the buyer to The New York Times.
The mansion sustained damage during a coastal flooding advisory in the Los Angeles area caused by the remnants of Hurricane Marie, which had weakened into a tropical storm. Although the storm did not hit land, it brought heavy rain and hazardous waves to Southern California’s coastline over the holiday weekend.
The City of Malibu released a statement on Wednesday, attributing the sinkhole incident to broader regional coastal conditions. The city is actively monitoring coastal erosion in various vulnerable areas, including the Pacific Coast Highway in the Palisades Fire burn area and Point Dume State Beach.
Situated between the ocean and the iconic Pacific Coast Highway, the private neighborhood where Cage’s mansion is located witnessed the sinkhole event. Cage, aged 62, recently starred in the Amazon series “Spider-Noir” and is set to portray John Madden in an upcoming biopic about the NFL figure later this year. With a prolific career spanning over 100 films, Cage clinched an Oscar for his performance in “Leaving Las Vegas.”