31 Houses Red-Tagged At Lechusa Beach, As Landslide Concern Grows Play

6:15 PM TUESDAY UPDATE:
31 Houses Red-Tagged As Pounding Surf Erodes Sea Level Drive
A total of 31 houses above Lechusa Beach are red tagged this evening, and the occupants of 29 of them pulling out at least temporarily.

The houses are on or near Sea Level Drive, the private beachfront road that is partly undermined by the ocean action. They are west of Victoria Point, accessed off Broad Beach Road.

Five houses were redtagged this morning. The other 26 were given "do not enter" orders tonight by 6. All but two homeowners were reportedly obeying the order, according to sheriff's deputies quoted by KTLA.

The city's Director of Emergency Services declared a local emergency , after consulting with firefighters and the Sheriff’s Department.

The expanding sinkhole is restruicting vehicles from reaching houses in the front five houses perched over the beach, but also to the 26 houses on the inland side of the dead end road. Road access for residents and emergency services is impossible with the ocean still eating away support for the road.

Authorities warn that these conditions are likely to worsen with forecasted high tides and rain caused by Hurricane Marie. A Coastal Flood Advisory has been issued until 11:00 PM on September 8, 2026.

Earlier today, city officials said churning surf had eaten away the dirt bluff under the ocean front houses, and likely sewer pipes or septic tanks.

A temporary shelter is being established by the American Red Cross at Malibu High School for the affected properties, at 30215 Morning View Drive.,

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.

No vehicles or pedestrians were being allowed into the neighborhood.

Five houses on Lechusa Beach were red-tagged this morning— their foundations damaged by pounding surf over Labor Day weekend.

Those houses are on East Sea Level Drive, a private road that is partly undermined by the ocean action along the beach. They are west of Victoria Point, accessed off Broad Beach Road.

Churning surf has eaten away the dirt bluff under the five oceanfront houses, possibly exposing septic tanks.

The city Tuesday is also watching erosion issues on PCH near Big Rock, in the Palisades burn area. Emergency repairs were underway Sunday on PCH at La Costa Beach, apparently by Caltrans.

L.A. County and the city are 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 is preparing for the potential strong storms, strong waves, heavy rain, mudslides, and coastal erosion that are possible along the entire Southern California coast.

“The City has red tagged five homes — prohibited entry,” said city spokesman Matt Meyerhoff in a statement.

One of the five oceanfront houses at Lechusa Beach suffered serious damage. It was at 31630 Sea Level Drive. The house at one time was owned by actor Nick Cage.

There, a pair of driveways have collapsed. The fire department reports that the house was under repair and there was no one home.

From aerial video, the house appears to be safe on its pylons — but the driveway connecting it to the street has collapsed.

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