Evacuations in Malibu after waves open sinkhole at Nicolas Cage's house

Malibu residents were ordered to evacuate their homes on Wednesday after a massive sinkhole opened up on the driveway of a beachfront residence owned by Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage. The enormous hole, which appeared on Tuesday, was as wide as 60 feet and contained concrete, tiles, and a portable toilet. The sinkhole was around 25 feet deep by Tuesday evening, and waves from the Pacific Ocean continued to erode the coastline.

Malibu city officials declared a local emergency and issued an evacuation order affecting dozens of homes in some of the most prestigious real estate in Southern California. The Director of Emergency Services declared the existence of a local emergency following a large sinkhole forming near 31630 Sea Level Drive. Sheriff deputies notified residents in person, and a digital alert was issued by the city.

Meanwhile, truckloads of boulders were placed along a stretch of beach in Dana Point to protect homes, as seven properties have already been deemed uninhabitable, with one partially collapsing into the sea. Meteorologist Richard Thompson of the National Weather Service explained that coastal waters were being churned by the remnants of Hurricane Marie, causing significant surf and swells along the area.

The remnants of Hurricane Lowell had recently caused damage in Hawaii, and a near-record-strength El Nino climate episode is contributing to the formation of powerful storms in the Pacific Ocean.