Three multimillion-dollar homes in Southern California are teetering precariously on the edge of a cliff after a landslide this weekend.
The collapse occurred Friday in Dana Point, Orange County, and sent mud and debris sliding down the 50-foot-high gorge.
No evacuations have been ordered since Sunday and engineering crews were assessing the structural integrity of the homes – the only three were on the cliff.
Residents of the affected properties have been advised to remain vigilant and prepare for the looming possibility of relocation.
The three affected homes are now largely at the mercy of Mother Nature, although the rain that recently flooded the region appears to have passed. They cost approximately $12.8 million, $13 million and $15.9 million, and are at risk of ending up in the Pacific Ocean.
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Three multimillion-dollar homes in Southern California are teetering precariously on the edge of a cliff after a landslide this weekend
The collapse occurred Friday on Scenic Drive in Dana Point, causing mud and debris to slide down the 160-foot gorge. As of Sunday, no evacuations had been ordered and engineers were assessing the structural integrity of the homes – the only three on the road. the cliff
Still, City Manager Mike Killebrew assured residents of the prestigious street and others in the neighborhood Friday that the situation was under control.
“There are no structures at risk at this time and it appears there is no impact to the side access to the beach,” he said.
Meanwhile, remnants of the large area of land that fell at the base of the cliff could be seen.
A portal to the Dana Point Caves lay intact a few hundred yards to the left of the collapse, along with the stretch of beach Killebrew had mentioned.
The trio of houses above, a symbol of status in the prosperous region, were in a precarious spot next to the Ocean Institute – another popular tourist attraction.
Debris from the collapse site fell near the tide pools, Killebrew explained – a designated Marine Protected Area (MPA) accessible from the beach and surrounding trails.
No one was down there when the debris fell on Friday, after heavy rains saturated the region and led to numerous landslides and mudslides.
The landslide fell much of the cliff onto the base of the most expensive home in the complex, a $15.9 million four-bedroom behemoth registered to a local radiologist, records show.
The landslide fell much of the cliff onto the base of the most expensive home in the complex, a $15.9 million four-bedroom behemoth registered to a local radiologist, records show.
The missing rock wall slid right next to another $12.8 million home immediately to the right (seen here) – located on a slightly lower cliff that thankfully remained in place
A third house further to the right, valued at $13 million and owned by a local producer, appeared to be in better condition than the rest, although just a few meters away – and a few hundred meters above the sea – it was still in use. unstable ground
The collapse remains under investigation by city officials and is just the latest in a series of incidents that have besieged SoCal in recent weeks.
The missing rock wall slipped right next to another house immediately on the right – a house on a slightly lower rock outcrop that thankfully stayed in place.
KABC’s AIR7 HD was over the area to capture a startling view of the portion of the collapsed cliff right next to the $12.8 million home, which somehow stayed in place when tons of rock piled up fell only a few meters away.
A third house further to the right, valued at $13 million and owned by a local producer, appeared to be in better condition than the rest, although just a few meters away – and a few hundred meters above the sea – it was still in use. unstable ground.
The Dana Point collapse — which remains under investigation by city officials — is just the latest in a series of incidents that have besieged SoCal in recent weeks.
That same day, a section of a cul-de-sac on Avenida Columbo, 13 miles south along the Pacific coast, collapsed about five feet due to a mudslide that sent mud and debris at least 150 feet down.
The area was already affected by unstable ground, with one home at the site of an active landslide that had been going on for decades, said Dave Rebensdorf, the city’s public works director.
He went there Friday to check on it, though residents’ concerns still warrant some city intervention.
Residents in both areas have been advised to pay close attention as they continue to grapple with the impact of these natural disasters.
Meanwhile, landslides along the oceanfront cliffs in San Clemente, a few miles away, closed the city’s beach trails, especially on the north side of town.
Stairs leading to the coastal path at Dije Court, El Portal and Lasuen Beach were added to the list of closed access points last week due to the area’s ongoing instability.
That said, an evacuation has yet to be ordered in Dana Point as residents’ resilience continues to be tested. Engineers were still assessing the site on Sunday as some rain showers are forecast next week.
