A massive sinkhole has opened up outside the Malibu beachfront home of Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage, swallowing much of the property’s driveway and prompting authorities to declare several nearby homes unsafe .
The crater, estimated to be about 30 feet by 30 feet, appeared early Tuesday morning after days of pounding surf and heavy rain linked to Tropical Storm Marie, which had previously been a hurricane . The collapse caused a gas leak, prompting a response from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Southern California Gas Company . Officials say coastal erosion from the storm’s large swells is the likely cause .
Aerial footage shows a gaping hole where the driveway once stood, with broken asphalt, concrete, debris, parts of a fence, and even a portable toilet swallowed into the crater . Waves from the ocean were seen lapping into the hole and rushing out beneath the supports of the house .
Firefighters who responded to the scene around 5:45 am found “substantial damage” to the home, though the main structure of the house did not appear to have suffered damage . No one was reported to be home at the time, and no injuries were reported . The City of Malibu declared a local emergency and “red-tagged” at least five homes on the street, prohibiting entry . The actor purchased the 4,000-square-foot mansion, which features a rooftop deck and direct beach access, for $10.5 million in 2024 .
