The driveway of a lavish coastal estate in Malibu, reportedly owned by actor Nicolas Cage, suffered a collapse on Tuesday morning when a massive sinkhole suddenly appeared in front of the property. The incident resulted in a gas leak around 6 a.m., leading to a swift response from local authorities and utility services. SoCalGas, the utility company, managed to contain the leak after a few hours but decided to temporarily halt natural gas services in a portion of the street as a precautionary measure against potential coastal erosion.
Described as 7.5 to nine meters deep and 18 meters wide, the sinkhole extended into the roadway, prompting officials to declare a local emergency and evacuate 31 properties in the vicinity by Wednesday. Despite attempts to reach out for comment, representatives for Cage remained unresponsive. Property records indicate that the estate 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 due to the residual impacts of Hurricane Marie, which had transitioned back into a tropical storm. Although the storm did not directly hit land, it brought heavy rainfall and generated hazardous waves along the Southern California shoreline during the recent holiday weekend.
Acknowledging the broader regional coastal challenges, the City of Malibu issued a statement on Wednesday, emphasizing the monitoring of coastal erosion along various vulnerable points, including the Pacific Coast Highway in the Palisades Fire burn area and Point Dume State Beach.
Situated between the ocean and the renowned Pacific Coast Highway, the exclusive neighborhood where the mansion is located witnessed the sinkhole incident. Nicolas Cage, aged 62, has been active in the entertainment industry, recently starring in the Amazon series “Spider-Noir.” He is set to portray John Madden in an upcoming biographical film on the NFL coach and commentator, slated for release later this year. With over 100 film credits to his name, Cage has also earned an Oscar for his role in “Leaving Las Vegas.”