A large 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 before 6 a.m. local time, which prompted authorities and a utility company to take action. SoCalGas, the utility company, reported that they had controlled the leak after several hours but decided to temporarily shut off natural gas services in the area to prevent coastal erosion. The sinkhole, measuring approximately 7.5 to nine meters deep and 18 meters wide, extended into the roadway, leading officials to declare a local emergency and issue an evacuation order for 31 properties in the vicinity.
Although requests for comment from Cage’s representatives went unanswered, property records indicated that the mansion was sold in 2024, with the previous owner confirming Cage as the buyer. The property suffered damage during a coastal flooding advisory in the Los Angeles area due to the lingering effects of Tropical Storm Marie, which caused heavy rain and hazardous waves along the Southern California coastline over the holiday weekend.
The City of Malibu addressed the incident as part of broader coastal conditions, mentioning ongoing monitoring of coastal erosion in various vulnerable areas. The private neighborhood, situated between the ocean and the Pacific Coast Highway, faced the sinkhole incident. Nicolas Cage, aged 62, recently featured in the Amazon series “Spider-Noir” and is set to portray John Madden in an upcoming biographical film about the NFL coach and commentator. With a career spanning over 100 films, Cage won an Oscar for his role in “Leaving Las Vegas.”