A significant sinkhole has opened up in the driveway of a Malibu property linked to Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage, an incident triggered by heavy rains from Tropical Storm Marie. The structural failure created a crater estimated at 30ft by 30ft, swallowing much of the home’s entrance.
According to local reports, the issue began on Monday when residents noticed an initial 8ft depression forming. One neighbor told Los Angeles magazine that homeowners initially believed the problem was minor and would be resolved quickly, but conditions deteriorated rapidly.
By early Tuesday morning, the ground gave way completely. Emergency services responded to the scene, where the collapse caused a gas leak. SoCalGas confirmed that the leak has since been secured. Local media reported no injuries.
The New York Times previously reported that Cage purchased the property in 2024. The Academy Award-winning actor is known for films including Leaving Las Vegas, Face/Off, and Pig.
Malibu city officials have declared at least five homes on the street unsafe for entry. Authorities warned that emergency access is severely constrained and that the area may be impassable due to the large portion of the road that has collapsed. The damage follows a coastal flooding warning issued for Southern California as Tropical Storm Marie, formerly a hurricane, stayed offshore but still brought significant rain and high waves to the region.
Five homes declared unsafe? That’s devastating for the whole block. Praying everyone gets back in their homes soon.
Coastal erosion combined with storm saturation makes sinkholes common here. It wasn’t the storm alone, it was the underlying soil instability.
Nicolas Cage buying a house in Malibu and it immediately collapses? This feels like a bad movie script. Wild timing.
No injuries is a huge relief! That gas leak sounds terrifying though. Hope the repairs go smoothly.