The driveway of a mansion in Malibu, reportedly owned by Nicolas Cage, collapsed on Tuesday due to a large sinkhole forming in front of the property. The incident caused a gas leak around 6 a.m., leading to a swift response from authorities and utility services. SoCalGas, the utility company, managed to control the leak after a few hours but decided to temporarily halt natural gas services in the area to prevent coastal erosion.
The sinkhole measures approximately 7.5 to nine meters deep and 18 meters wide, with part of it extending into the road. Following the event, local officials declared a state of emergency and ordered the evacuation of 31 properties in the vicinity as a safety measure.
Despite requests for comments, representatives for Nicolas Cage have not responded. Public records indicate that the property changed ownership in 2024, with the previous owner informing the New York Times that Cage was the buyer.
The mansion suffered damage during a coastal flooding advisory in the Los Angeles area, attributed to the aftermath of Hurricane Marie, which transitioned from a hurricane to a tropical storm. Although the storm did not hit land, it brought heavy rainfall and created hazardous waves along the Southern California coast during the recent holiday period.
The City of Malibu released a statement on Wednesday, highlighting the sinkhole incident as part of broader coastal issues in the region. They are actively monitoring coastal erosion in various vulnerable areas, including the Palisades Fire burn zone along 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 faces these ongoing coastal challenges. Nicolas Cage, aged 62, is known for his recent role 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 has also won an Oscar for his performance in “Leaving Las Vegas.”
