A massive sinkhole opened up in front of a coastal mansion in Malibu, believed to be owned by Nicolas Cage, causing the driveway to collapse on Tuesday morning. The incident led to a gas leak that was quickly addressed by authorities and a utility company. SoCalGas, the utility service, managed to control the leak after a few hours but decided to temporarily shut off natural gas services in the area to prevent coastal erosion.
The sinkhole, measuring around 7.5 to nine meters deep and 18 meters wide, extended into the roadway, leading officials to declare a local emergency and evacuate 31 properties in the vicinity. Despite attempts to reach out for comments, representatives for Cage remained silent. Records indicate that the property was sold in 2024, with the previous owner confirming Cage as the buyer.
The mansion sustained damage during a coastal flooding advisory in the Los Angeles area due to the aftermath of Hurricane Marie, which transitioned into a tropical storm. The storm, though not making landfall, brought rain and generated hazardous waves along the Southern California coast over the holiday weekend.
The City of Malibu emphasized that the sinkhole incident is part of broader regional coastal challenges, with ongoing monitoring of coastal erosion in various vulnerable points along the coast. The private community where the mansion is located lies between the ocean and the renowned Pacific Coast Highway.
Nicolas Cage, aged 62, recently appeared in the Amazon series “Spider-Noir” and is set to portray John Madden in an upcoming biographical movie about the NFL figure. With a career spanning over 100 films, Cage has garnered critical acclaim, including an Oscar for his role in “Leaving Las Vegas.”