TL;DR: On September 8, 2026, the City of Malibu declared a local emergency and ordered evacuations for 31 properties on Sea Level Drive after an expanding coastal-erosion sinkhole cut emergency and resident access.

Evacuation order in effect for Sea Level Drive

The City of Malibu issued evacuation orders for Sea Level Drive properties on September 8, 2026, due to a sinkhole caused by coastal erosion and lack of access for emergency services and residents, according to the City of Malibu Alert Center.

The Alert Center post, timed at 6:34 PM on September 8, 2026, stated that the risk was expanding.

The same city alert stated that an evacuation order is in effect for all affected properties.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the city declared a local emergency and issued evacuation orders for 31 homes after a massive and expanding sinkhole opened in a driveway.

Malibu.FM reported that the total went from 5 to 31 on the evening of September 8, with no word on how long the evacuation will last.

Malibu.FM reported that occupants of 29 of the houses were pulling out at least temporarily.

Malibu.FM reported that sheriff's deputies said all but two homeowners were obeying the order, as quoted by KTLA.

Sheriff deputies notified residents in person, and a digital alert was issued by the city through Everbridge, according to the City of Malibu Alert Center.

Entry into the neighborhood was blocked, according to Malibu.FM.

Malibu.FM reported that no vehicles or pedestrians were being allowed into the neighborhood.

Where the sinkhole formed

The Director of Emergency Services of the City of Malibu declared the existence of a local emergency following a large sinkhole forming near 31630 Sea Level Drive, according to the City of Malibu Alert Center.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department responded to the sinkhole at a home on the 31600 block of Sea Level Drive around 5:45 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Canyon News reported that the collapse of a driveway on a beachfront property and a resulting gas leak on Sea Level Drive in western Malibu was reported at approximately 5:45 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and Los Angeles County Fire Department responded and closed the private road and identified the gas leak, according to Canyon News.

Southern California Gas Company was on site working on the gas leak, according to Canyon News.

NBC Los Angeles reported that utility crews and Department of Building and Safety personnel responded to the location on a private road in the 31000 block of Sea Level Drive after the collapse damaged a gas main.

NBC Los Angeles reported that video from NewsChopper4 showed a large hole with a portable toilet inside in front of the residence, which was damaged by coastal erosion.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the sinkhole opened in the driveway of an oceanfront residence identified by real estate records as owned by Nicolas Cage.

Malibu.FM reported that one of the five oceanfront houses suffered serious damage at 31630 Sea Level Drive and that the house at one time was owned by actor Nick Cage.

Malibu.FM reported that a pair of driveways collapsed at that address.

The fire department reported that the house was under repair and there was no one home, according to Malibu.FM.

Malibu.FM reported that from aerial video, the house appeared to be on its pylons while the driveway connecting it to the street had collapsed.

A gas main broke and the fire department was called to a gas leak at 5:45 a.m. Tuesday, according to Malibu.FM.

No injuries were reported, according to NBC Los Angeles.

Why access was cut

The proclamation was created in consultation with the LA County Fire Department and LA County Sheriff's Department, citing public safety concerns as an expanding sinkhole restricts vital access for residents and emergency services, according to the City of Malibu Alert Center.

Malibu.FM reported that the expanding sinkhole was restricting vehicles from reaching houses in the front five houses perched over the beach, but also the 26 houses on the inland side of the dead-end road.

Malibu.FM reported that road access for residents and emergency services was impossible with the ocean still eating away support for the road.

The houses are on or near Sea Level Drive, the private beachfront road that is partly undermined by ocean action, according to Malibu.FM.

Malibu.FM reported that the houses are west of Victoria Point and accessed off Broad Beach Road.

Malibu.FM reported that the houses are on East Sea Level Drive, a private road partly undermined by ocean action along the beach.

Cement truck after cement truck was lined up on Broad Beach Road Tuesday afternoon, ready to unload wet cement into the gaping hole in front of several houses on Lechusa Beach, according to Malibu.FM.

Malibu.FM reported that cement trucks waiting to deliver to the gaping hole were still lining up on Broad Beach Road Tuesday night.

City officials said earlier Tuesday that churning surf had eaten away the dirt bluff under oceanfront houses, and likely sewer pipes or septic tanks, according to Malibu.FM.

Malibu.FM reported that churning surf had eaten away the dirt bluff under five oceanfront houses, possibly exposing septic tanks.

The City's Building Safety Division and Southern California Gas Company were working to assess the situation, according to Canyon News.

The City's Building Safety Division and Southern California Gas Company would continue to assess the situation to determine safety concerns for the surrounding area and would provide updates as they become available, according to Canyon News.

Red tags expand from five to 31 houses

The city red-tagged five homes with prohibited entry, according to Canyon News.

NBC Los Angeles reported that five homes were red-tagged and deemed uninhabitable.

Malibu.FM reported that five houses on Lechusa Beach were red-tagged Tuesday morning after foundations were damaged by pounding surf over Labor Day weekend.

The city spokesman Matt Meyerhoff said in a statement that the city had red-tagged five homes with prohibited entry, according to Malibu.FM.

Malibu.FM reported in a 6:15 PM Tuesday update that 31 houses above Lechusa Beach were red-tagged that evening.

Malibu.FM reported that five houses were red-tagged in the morning and the other 26 were given "do not enter" orders by 6 p.m.

Malibu.FM reported that some residents were seen leaving with suitcases at 6 p.m.

A temporary shelter is being established by the American Red Cross at Malibu High School for the affected properties at 30215 Morning View Drive, Malibu, CA 90265, according to the City of Malibu Alert Center.

Malibu.FM also reported that a temporary shelter was being established by the American Red Cross at Malibu High School at 30215 Morning View Drive.

Weather and surf driving worsening risk

Authorities warned that conditions were likely to worsen with forecasted high tides and rain caused by Hurricane Marie, according to the City of Malibu Alert Center.

A Coastal Flood Advisory was issued until 11:00 PM on September 8, 2026, according to the City of Malibu Alert Center.

NBC Los Angeles reported that the driveway collapsed Tuesday morning after steady rainfall and high surf on the Los Angeles County coast.

NBC Los Angeles reported that hours of rainfall Sunday into Monday and continued high surf were among the effects of Tropical Storm Marie hundreds of miles off the California coast.

NBC Los Angeles reported that the swell from the storm and an elevated evening high tide meant waves were reaching farther inland.

NBC Los Angeles reported that a high surf advisory and coastal flood advisory would be in effect until 11 p.m. Tuesday for portions of the Los Angeles County and Orange County coasts.

NBC Los Angeles reported expected large breaking waves of 6 to 10 feet for south- and southwest-facing beaches and 4 to 7 feet for west-facing beaches, with strong and dangerous rip and longshore currents.

NBC Los Angeles reported that high tides would increase through early in the week and were expected to exceed 7 feet.

City of Malibu spokesperson Matt Myerhoff said coastal erosion was happening along the Southern California coast, with high waves, storm surge and high tides occurring for the prior several weeks, according to NBC Los Angeles.

Wider coastal erosion monitoring

The City of Malibu said it was actively monitoring and responding to coastal erosion issues in areas including Pacific Coast Highway in the Palisades Fire burn area and at Westward Beach due to strong waves and high tides, in close collaboration with partner agencies, according to NBC Los Angeles.

Canyon News reported that the city was actively monitoring and responding to coastal erosion issues in those same areas due to strong waves and high tides, in close collaboration with partner agencies.

Malibu.FM reported that the city Tuesday was also watching erosion issues on Pacific Coast Highway near Big Rock, in the Palisades burn area.

Emergency repairs were underway Sunday on Pacific Coast Highway at La Costa Beach, apparently by Caltrans, according to Malibu.FM.

Malibu.FM reported that Los Angeles County and the city were also watching Westward Beach, where additional beach washed away Sunday and Monday west of the rock revetment installed in late August.

The city said in a late-morning statement that it was preparing for potential strong storms, strong waves, heavy rain, mudslides and coastal erosion possible along the entire Southern California coast, according to Malibu.FM.

NBC Los Angeles reported that the city said it was preparing for potential strong storms, strong waves, heavy rain, mudslides and coastal erosion possible along the entire Southern California coast due to forecast strong El Niño conditions.

Canyon News reported that Malibu was preparing for potential strong storms, strong waves, heavy rain, mudslides and coastal erosion possible along the entire Southern California coast due to forecast strong El Niño conditions.

NBC Los Angeles reported that about 20 homes along the Long Beach Boardwalk were evacuated as high surf conditions continued early in the week.

NBC Los Angeles reported that homeowners were placing sandbags, boarding windows and taking other precautions as high surf threatened residences along shorelines in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

What evacuated households were told to do

Residents in the affected Sea Level Drive area received in-person notification from sheriff's deputies and a city digital alert through Everbridge, according to the City of Malibu Alert Center.

Residents who left were directed to the American Red Cross temporary shelter at Malibu High School at 30215 Morning View Drive, Malibu, CA 90265, according to the City of Malibu Alert Center.

Malibu.FM reported that entry into the neighborhood was blocked and that no vehicles or pedestrians were being allowed in.

Anyone outside the evacuation area but facing high surf was taking precautions including sandbags and boarding windows in Los Angeles and Orange counties, according to NBC Los Angeles.

Sources referenced