Three multimillion-dollar homes in Southern California teeter precariously on the edge of a cliff following a mudslide over the weekend.
The collapse occurred in Dana Point, Orange County, on Friday, sending mud and debris sliding into the 150-foot chasm below.
As of Sunday, no evacuations had been ordered and teams of engineers were assessing the structural integrity of the houses, the only three located on the cliff.
Residents of affected properties have been advised to remain vigilant and prepare for the imminent possibility of relocation.
The three affected homes are now largely at the mercy of Mother Nature, although the rains that recently flooded the region appear to have passed. They are priced at around $12.8 million, $13 million and $15.9 million and are at risk of falling into the Pacific.
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Three multimillion-dollar homes in Southern California teeter precariously on the edge of a cliff following a landslide over the weekend.
The collapse occurred on Scenic Drive in Dana Point on Friday and sent mud and debris sliding into the 150-foot chasm below. As of Sunday, no evacuations had been ordered and engineers were assessing the structural integrity of the houses, the only three on the cliff.
Still, on Friday, City Manager Mike Killebrew assured residents of the prestigious street and others nearby that the situation was under control.
“At this height there are no compromised structures and there does not appear to be any impact on lateral access to the beach,” he said.
Meanwhile, remains of the large chunk of earth that fell at the base of the cliff could be seen.
A portal to the Dana Point Caves lay intact a few hundred feet to the left of the collapse, along with the stretch of beach Killebrew had referred to.
The trio of houses above, a status symbol in the prosperous region, sat in their 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) that can be accessed from the beach and surrounding trails.
No one was there when the debris fell on Friday, after heavy rains saturated the region and caused countless mudslides and mudslides.
The landslide caused a large portion of the cliff to fall at the foot of the complex’s most expensive home, a four-bedroom behemoth valued at $15.9 million registered to a local radiologist, records show.
The landslide caused a large portion of the cliff to fall at the foot of the complex’s most expensive home, a four-bedroom behemoth valued at $15.9 million registered to a local radiologist, records show.
The missing cliff face slid right next to another $12.8 million home immediately to the right (seen here), located at a slightly lower position on the cliff that fortunately remained in place.
A third house further to the right, valued at $13 million and belonging to a local producer, appeared to be in better condition than the rest, although just a few feet away – and a few hundred feet above the sea – it is still standing. unstable ground
City officials are still investigating the collapse and it is just the latest in a series of incidents that have besieged Southern California in recent weeks.
The missing cliff wall slid right next to another house immediately to the right, one located on a slightly lower cliff that fortunately remained in place.
KABC’s AIR7 HD was over the area to capture a striking image of the portion of the collapsed cliff right next to the $12.8 million residence, which somehow remained in place as tons of rock fell just meters away.
A third house further to the right, valued at $13 million and belonging to a local producer, appeared to be in better condition than the rest, although just a few feet away – and a few hundred feet above the sea – it is still standing. unstable terrain.
The Dana Point collapse, which is still being investigated by city officials, is simply the latest in a series of incidents that have besieged Southern California in recent weeks.
The same day, 13 miles south along the Pacific Coast, part of a dead end on Columbo Avenue fell about five feet after a landslide that sent mud and debris at least 150 feet below.
The area had already been affected by unstable ground, with one home located at the site of an active landslide that has had continuous movement for several decades, said Dave Rebensdorf, the city’s Public Works director.
He went there Friday to check it out, although residents’ concerns still warrant city intervention.
Residents in both areas have been advised to remain vigilant as they continue to deal with the aftermath of these natural disasters.
Meanwhile, news of landslides along the oceanfront bluffs in San Clemente, a few miles away, prompted the closure of the city’s beach trails, primarily in the city’s north end. .
Stairs leading to the coastal path at Dije Court, El Portal and Lasuen Beach were added last week to the list of closed access points, due to continued instability in the area.
That said, an evacuation has not yet been ordered in Dana Point, as residents’ resilience continues to be tested. On Sunday, engineers were still assessing the terrain, as some rain is forecast next week.