Malibu sinkhole linked to coastal erosion prompts evacuations and home-owner concerns

A sinkhole that appeared on a Malibu beach on Tuesday has been blamed on coastal erosion caused by high waves and tides associated with Hurricane Marie. By the end of the day the opening measured about 25 feet deep and 30 by 60 feet wide, prompting city officials to order evacuations for residents on the affected street. Seven homes were red-tagged for hazardous conditions and an additional 24 were marked because emergency vehicles could not reach them.

City officials said the sinkhole resulted from erosion and warned that the area faces potential strong storms, high surf, heavy rain, mudslides and further coastal erosion this winter as El Niño conditions develop. Malibu City Manager Joseph Irvin estimated that construction and repairs to fill the hole would take roughly four weeks.

Local residents expressed mixed reactions. Mitchell Leib, a 67-year-old homeowner who has lived in his house for a decade, said his wife is considering selling and moving, adding, "We’re looking to have peace and quiet in our lives, not fear."

Former Malibu mayor and real-estate agent Andy Stern, whose home was also ordered to evacuate, suggested the incident was likely a one-off event caused by a burst water pipe and wave action rather than an indication of a larger, ongoing problem.

Other homeowners, such as Jo Giese, who lives on a cliff above the ocean, have been monitoring the response. She noted that concrete trucks had arrived to fill the sinkhole, but a contractor later told her the material had been washed out to sea, leaving the hole unchanged.

Authorities continue to assess the situation while residents await the completion of repair work and consider the longer-term implications for coastal stability in the region.