Ongoing landslide near Los Angeles causes weeks-long power shutoffs as heat wave sizzles region
A landslide that has been plaguing a Los Angeles-area neighborhood for decades has become more problematic over the past week, triggering power outages for over 200 homes -- some to last for several weeks.
Aerial footage of damage from Greater Portuguese Landslide Complex near Los Angeles
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency after a landslide in the oceanside city of Rancho Palos Verdes caused power shutoffs for more than 200 homes and dozens of businesses. (Video courtesy: FOX 11 Los Angeles)
RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif.-- California Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency after a landslide in the oceanside city of Rancho Palos Verdes caused power shutoffs for more than 200 homes and dozens of businesses.
The landslide, part of the Greater Portuguese Landslide Complex that was discovered in 1956, recently began accelerating due to intense storm activity over the past two years, officials said.
On Thursday, the increased movement from the landslide caused a utility line to start a spot brush fire on the Southern California Edison Shoreline Circuit, the state of emergency said. On Sunday, SCE shut off power to 140 homes in the Portuguese Bend Community Association neighborhood in Rancho Palos Verdes to prevent additional fire starts. The preventative outages spread to another 105 homes in the nearby Seaview neighborhood on Monday.
![Power To Be Cut At 140 Rancho Palos Verdes Homes After Land Movement]()
Image 1 of 7RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA - SEPTEMBER 02: Aerial view of the Rancho Palos Verdes on September 2, 2024 in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Southern California Edison shut off power to 140 homes in the Portuguese Bend neighborhood of Rancho Palos Verdes on September 1 as continuing land movement created unsafe conditions, triggering an evacuation warning. (Photo by Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images) (Qian Weizhong/VCG)
![Power To Be Cut At 140 Rancho Palos Verdes Homes After Land Movement]()
Image 2 of 7Rancho Palos Verdes, CA - September 01: Severe landslide damage on Dauntless Drive near the Portuguese Bend Community on the Rancho Palos Verdes were an evacuation warning has been issued due to electricity being cut on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024 in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
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Image 3 of 7LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 01: Aerial view of houses on the Rancho Palos Verdes on September 1, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Southern California Edison shut off power to 140 homes in the Portuguese Bend neighborhood of Rancho Palos Verdes on Sunday as continuing land movement created unsafe conditions, triggering an evacuation warning. (Photo by Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images) (Qian Weizhong/VCG)
![Power To Be Cut At 140 Rancho Palos Verdes Homes After Land Movement]()
Image 4 of 7Rancho Palos Verdes, California August 31, 2024-Cars make their way along Palos Verdes Drive South in Rancho Palos Verdes where a landslide has accelerated. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
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Image 5 of 7LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 01: Aerial view of houses on the Rancho Palos Verdes on September 1, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Southern California Edison shut off power to 140 homes in the Portuguese Bend neighborhood of Rancho Palos Verdes on Sunday as continuing land movement created unsafe conditions, triggering an evacuation warning. (Photo by Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images) (Qian Weizhong/VCG)
![Power To Be Cut At 140 Rancho Palos Verdes Homes After Land Movement]()
Image 6 of 7Rancho Palos Verdes, CA - September 01: Severe landslide damage on Dauntless Drive near the Portuguese Bend Community on the Rancho Palos Verdes were an evacuation warning has been issued due to electricity being cut on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024 in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
![Power To Be Cut At 140 Rancho Palos Verdes Homes After Land Movement]()
Image 7 of 7RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA - SEPTEMBER 02: Caution tapes surround a damaged road amid land movement crisis on September 2, 2024 in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Southern California Edison shut off power to 140 homes in the Portuguese Bend neighborhood of Rancho Palos Verdes on September 1 as continuing land movement created unsafe conditions, triggering an evacuation warning. (Photo by Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images) (Qian Weizhong/VCG)
City officials said for Seaview, 20 homes would have no power indefinitely, and 38 properties would have no power for 1–3 weeks. The remaining 47 properties are expected to regain power by Tuesday evening, the city said.
The power outages and ensuing lack of air conditioning come as Southern California is about to undergo an intense heat wave later this week. Heat Advisories and Excessive Heat Warnings are in effect for much of the Los Angeles area on Thursday and Friday, though the threatened neighborhood’s proximity to the ocean will keep temperatures cooler. High temperatures are still expected to reach the mid-upper 80s on both days.
In the state of emergency, Gov. Newsom stated that Rancho Palos Verdes is home to four sub-slides within the Greater Potuguese Landslide Complex, and up until 2023, the landslide complex was sliding at an average of several inches per year. However, due to increased storm activity in the last two years, the slide has accelerated significantly.
The landslide complex is now sliding an average of 9–12 inches per week, and local government and utility companies could not prepare for the impact that such an acceleration of sliding could cause.
Newsom's emergency proclination directs more state resources to the scene.