Residents of Rancho Palos Verdes and local authorities are on alert as land movement has been reported behind a row of oceanfront homes over the past weekend. According to NBC4, there have been no evacuations, but the area is under assessment by geologists and building and safety staff. Rancho Palos Verdes, an area long familiar with geological instability, saw a section of slope drop dramatically toward the coastline.
Specifically, a resident reported to the Los Angeles County Fire Department late Saturday night that a significant portion of their yard had disappeared. "At this point there is no structural damage or threat immediately. We will need to follow up on that with the proper geologists and experts in the soils to make sure that the movement is stopped," Battalion Chief Emmanuel Sampang told NBC4. Officials estimated about 300 to 400 feet of the slope moved, descending 50 to 60 feet.
Marguerite Drive residents witnessed the land shift firsthand, a heavy reminder of their precarious positioning on coastal bluffs. An interview by KTLA with the resident neighbor, Mehran Moshfegh, revealed that despite visible cracking and sloughing off of the land, the homes themselves, built on what was believed to be stable ground, have remained undamaged. "These houses were built on rock solid [ground], so the homes are safe...every now and then a section may fall in, but the homes are safe," Moshfegh told KTLA.
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes has been quick to respond, with a preliminary geotechnical assessment conducted by the city's geologist. As stated on the city's official Community News Updates, "The situation is considered to be static at this time," and the land movement seems unrelated to the nearby Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex. While properties suffered soil movement affecting backyards, no homes were tagged for evacuation, yet the public is being advised to steer clear of the affected shoreline area as conditions settle.
Cleanup efforts and further steps will be the responsibility of the property owners since the landslide occurred on private land. As the city and experts continue to monitor and assess the situation, questions and media inquiries are directed to the city's communication channels or through the provided email address, [email protected], and the media partner [email protected].
