A neighborhood in Rolling Hills Estates, an affluent area in coastal Los Angeles County, faced a devastating situation as a landslide over the weekend led to the evacuation of around 16 people and the collapse of a dozen hilltop homes. The incident occurred on Peartree Lane in the Palos Verdes Peninsula, where fire officials, responding to a leaking pipe report, discovered significant land movement.
Local authorities attribute the saturation of underlying soils in the neighborhood to the unusually wet winter experienced in California. Similar hazards have threatened other picturesque locations in the state recently. As cracks and structural damage were found in the homes, residents were given a mere 20 minutes to gather their belongings and evacuate. The once-grand townhouses, valued at over a million dollars, swiftly succumbed to the landslide, sliding down the cliff and reaching almost street level. Beige stucco walls crumbled, leaving behind shattered structures and open gaps framed by wooden beams.
Utility crews, restricted by yellow caution tape, inspected the affected area’s power, cable, and gas lines. The silence of the neighborhood was occasionally disrupted by alarming crashes and rumbles as more sections of the homes collapsed. Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn expressed her shock at the devastating scene, emphasizing her sympathy for the affected residents. She described the unsettling sounds of homes shifting and decks falling off, with some roofs now level with the ground.
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