Multiple-million-dollar seafront properties in California are facing an uncertain future after a portion of a coastal cliffside crumbled, bringing them dangerously close to falling into the Pacific Ocean. A coastal bluff along Marguerite Drive in Rancho Palos Verdes, home to many large estates, gave way on a Saturday night.

According to city officials, the cliff face fell 50 to 60 feet (∼15 to 18 meters) towards the ocean. Remarkably, while no one was asked to evacuate and no homes were directly threatened, images captured a striking contrast: some clearly unbothered residents were seen relaxing in their pool just a few feet from the official yellow caution tape. The well-manicured backyards of some properties now lie scattered on the beach below.

Geological Mystery and Homeowner Costs

City Manager Ara Mihranian referred to the incident as an “isolated land subsidence,” stressing that officials would not classify it as a landslide. He noted that the bluff essentially dropped approximately 30 to 40 feet (∼9 to 12 meters) and occurred in a crescent shape about 300 feet (∼91 meters) wide.

While geologists have been called in to assess the site and determine the cause of the movement, the city made it clear that since the event occurred on private property, homeowners would be responsible for footing the bill for the massive cleanup and stabilization efforts. The city advised the public to avoid the shoreline near Marguerite Drive “out of an abundance of caution” as the bluff settles.

Broader Context of Instability

Resident concern is warranted given the area’s history. Rancho Palos Verdes has been plagued by recurrent landslides, with the Portuguese Bend neighborhood (about five miles south) hit particularly hard. Volatile ground activity there last year caused significant damage and forced utility companies to shut off gas and electricity to some residents for months. The city, however, maintains that the recent activity on Marguerite Drive is not linked to the issues in the Portuguese Bend area.