MALIBU—At about 5:45 a.m. Tuesday, September 8, a gas leak was reported in a line running beneath the 3100 block of Sea Level Drive East in Malibu. That same morning, part of the driveway leading to actor Nicholas Cage’s Malibu residence collapsed after a sinkhole caused by strong surf and coastal erosion. The city of Malibu released a statement about both incidents at about 4:30 p.m. that day.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles County Fire Department arrived and closed off the area. Afterward, the gas leak was reported to the Southern California Gas Company, which dispatched workers to shut off the gas line and assess the situation, along with representatives from the City’s Building Safety Division.
So far, five houses on Sea Level Drive have been red-tagged, meaning people are not allowed to enter them.
The situation is being evaluated to determine whether the surrounding areas are safe, and the public will receive further information as it becomes available.
Malibu observes and responds to beach erosion when it occurs, including at the Western Beach, along the Pacific Coast Highway, and within the area filled by the Palisades Fire burn area. To do so, it works with other local agencies. The city is also preparing for powerful storms that bring heavy rain and waves. It is getting ready to deal with possible mudslides and coastal erosion along the coast of Southern California.
