Three multimillion-dollar homes in Southern California teeter precariously on the edge of a cliffside following a landslide over the weekend.
The collapse occurred in Dana Point, Orange County, on Friday, and sent mud and debris sliding down the 150-feet chasm below.
As of Sunday, no evacuations have been ordered, and engineering crews were assessing the structural integrity of the homes – the only three set on the cliffside.
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 left at the mercy of Mother Nature, though rains that recently inundated the region look to have past. They are priced around $12.8million, $13million, and $15.9million, 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 cliffside following a landslide over the weekend
The collapse occurred on Scenic Drive in Dana Point Friday, and sent mud and debris sliding down the 150-feet chasm below. As of Sunday, no evacuations have been ordered, and engineers were assessing the structural integrity of the homes – the only three on the cliffside
Still, on Friday, City Manager Mike Killebrew assured residents on the prestigious street and others nearby that the situation was under control.
‘There are no structures jeopardized at this point, and it looks like no impact on the lateral beach access,’ he said.
Meanwhile, remnants of the large chunk of land that fell could be seen sitting at the base of the cliff.
A portal to the Dana Point Caves sat unmarred a few hundred feet to the left of the collapse, along with the stretch of beach that Killebrew had referred to.
The trio of homes above, a symbol of status in the affluent region, sat at its precarious place next to the Ocean Institute – another popular tourist attraction.
Debris from the collapse site came falling down near the tidepools, explained Killebrew – a a designated Marine Protected Area (MPA) that is accessible from the beach and surrounding trails.
No one was down there when the debris fell Friday, after heavy rains saturated the region and led to countless landslides and mudslides.
The landslide saw a a huge portion of cliff to fall the foot of the priciest home in the complex, a $15.9million, four-bedroom behemoth registered to a local radiologist, 82-year-old Lewis Bruggeman, records show.
He appears to operate his practice out of his home, and has more than 56 years of medical experience.
The landslide saw a a huge portion of cliff to fall the foot of the priciest home in the complex, a $15.9million, four-bedroom behemoth registered to a local radiologist, 82-year-old Lewis Bruggeman, records show
The missing cliff face slipped off right next to another, $12.8million home immediately to the right (seen here) – set on a slightly lower perch of cliff that luckily stayed in place
The home is owned by 66-year-old contracting mogul Guy Yocom, seen here reeling in a 427.9-pound yellowfin last April off of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
His construction business Yocum took of in the area in the late 70s, and has since burgeoned into an industry-leading empire, allowing him to purchase the property in 2021
A third home set further to the right, valued at $13million and belonging to a local producer, looked to be in better sorts than the rest, though at just a few feet away – and a few hundred feet above the sea – is still on unstable ground
The home belongs to producer Marketta Karsikko-Gassel, 80, who, like Dr. Bruggeman, has lived in the coastal cul de sac for decades
The collapse is still being surveyed by city officials, and is only the latest in a series of incidents that have besieged SoCal in recent weeks
The missing cliff face slipped off right next to another home, this one owned by 66-year-old contracting mogul Guy Yocom, immediately to the right – set on a slightly lower perch of cliff that luckily stayed in place.
KABC’s AIR7 HD was over the area to capture a startling image of the portion of collapsed cliff directly next to the $12.8million residence, which somehow stayed in place as tons of rock fell just feet away.
His construction business Yocum took of in the area in the late 70s, and has since burgeoned into an industry-leading empire, raking in an estimated $40million in revenue a year.
A third home set further to the right, valued at $13million and belonging to local producer Marketta Karsikko-Gassel, 80, looked to be in better sorts, though at just a few feet away – and a few hundred feet above the sea – is still on unstable ground.
The Dana Point collapse – which is still being surveyed by city officials – is merely the latest in a series of incidents that have besieged SoCal in recent weeks.
The same day, 13 miles south along the Pacific Coast, part of a cul-de-sac on Avenida Columbo dropped about five feet following a mudslide that sent mud and debris at least 150 feet below.
The area had already been affected by unstable soil, with one home set on the site of an active landslide that has had ongoing movement for several decades, said Dave Rebensdorf, the city’s director of Public Works.
He went there Friday to check on it, though residents concerns have yet warrant any city intervention.
Residents in both areas have been advised to keep a careful lookout, as they continue to grapple with the consequences of these natural disasters.
Meanwhile, news landslides along oceanfront bluffs in San Clemente a few miles away prompted closures of the town’s beach trails, mostly in the north end of town.
Stairs leading down 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 continuing instability of the area.
That said, an evacuation in Dana Point has yet to be ordered, as residents’ resilience continues to be put to the test. Engineers on Sunday were still assessing the grounds, as some rain showers are forecast next week.