Malibu sinkhole forces closure of public access to Lechuza Beach

A sinkhole that developed on East Sea Level Drive in Malibu has prompted authorities to shut down public access to Lechuza Beach, a rarely visited stretch of coastline favored by local residents. The collapse has forced the evacuation of the road and the closure of the stairway at Bunnie Lane, while the western gate on West Sea Level Drive remains open only to a viewpoint above the beach, with the stairs to the sand blocked.

"You could theoretically access the beach if you swam in from another location," a spokesperson for the Mountains & Recreation Conservation Authority told the California Post, "however, there is no safe access point from the street."

The agency added that the duration of the closure is uncertain because the hazards extend onto adjacent private land. "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," the representative said.

Lechuza Beach, which has three traditional entry points, has become a quiet alternative to more crowded nearby beaches. The site is managed by the MRCA, which received funding from California's Coastal Conservancy to preserve the area nearly 25 years ago. The surrounding neighborhood includes several high-value properties, some of which are currently on the market.