A massive sinkhole has opened up in the driveway of Nicolas Cage's beachfront Malibu mansion, threatening the property and forcing the evacuation of nearby residents. The hole, measuring roughly 30ft (9.1m) square, caused the driveway to collapse and triggered a gas leak that was later secured.
Emergency response and evacuations
Emergency crews and utility workers responded to the scene on Tuesday after the driveway gave way. The structural failure caused a gas leak, which SoCalGas said was secured several hours later, but significant damage had already been done.
Several nearby residents were evacuated for their own safety. Malibu City officials have declared at least five homes on the street unsafe for entry, warning that emergency access is "severely constrained" and that the area "may be impassable due to the large portion of the road that has collapsed."
Impact and context
The emergency declaration added: "The intact portion of the roadway is too narrow to accommodate emergency response vehicles, including fire engines and other large apparatus, creating a substantial risk to public safety and emergency response capabilities."
Images show broken asphalt, concrete, and construction debris inside the hole, with workers in orange safety vests assessing the damage. The incident follows coastal flooding advisories issued after Tropical Storm Marie.
Cage's home, reportedly worth $10.5m, was built by the late Jose Liberman of Liberman Broadcasting in the 1990s and later sold to the actor after years in the Liberman family. It is claimed nobody was home at the time.
No comment from Cage
Cage, known for roles in Face/Off, Con Air, and Gone in 60 Seconds, has not commented on the incident. He has appeared in more than 120 movies since his debut in 1982's Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
Speaking to Los Angeles magazine, one resident said: "We thought it could be fixed pretty quickly," before claiming: "All hell broke loose."
