Sinkhole in Malibu forces indefinite closure of Lechuza Beach

A sinkhole that developed on East Sea Level Drive in Malibu has prompted officials to evacuate adjacent properties and shut down public access to Lechuza Beach indefinitely. The Mountains & Recreation Conservation Authority (MRCA) said the beach can technically be reached by swimming from another location, but there is no safe land entry point.

The beach normally has three access points: a pedestrian gate on West Sea Level Drive, a stairway at Bunnie Lane and Broad Beach Road, and another gate on East Sea Level Drive. All routes except the West Sea Level Drive gate are currently closed, and the stairs at the West gate are also inaccessible.

"We are taking [it] day by day and cannot estimate the length of the closure because the public hazards that need to be mitigated are on adjacent land," an MRCA representative told the California Post.

The sinkhole threatens a series of high-value homes along the street, including a property owned by actor Nicolas Cage. Nearby, a $100 million compound owned by actor Pierce Brosnan is reportedly on the market after 26 years. The MRCA, which received funding from California’s Coastal Conservancy to acquire the site nearly 25 years ago, manages the beach that has been popular with locals seeking a less crowded alternative to nearby beaches.