Apocalyptic pictures show Malibu beach destroyed by sudden coastal erosion

Apocalyptic photos captured the latest blow to Malibu’s battered coastline after severe erosion left eight-foot drop-offs along the bluffs at iconic Point Dume Beach, forcing officials to shut down road access and warn the area had become too dangerous to enter.

Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors closed Westward Beach Road beyond the toll gate and the Point Dume Beach parking lot after overnight high tides and pounding surf carved away sections of the bluff, leaving “drop-offs approaching 8 feet in some locations,” KTLA reported.

“The bluff edge is unstable, with drop-offs approaching 8 feet in some locations, creating a significant safety hazard,” the department said in an advisory.

The closure comes as Malibu is still reeling from the aftermath of the Palisades Fire, with many homeowners already facing years of rebuilding and longstanding concerns over the stability of the coastline and Pacific Coast Highway.

Beachfront homeowner Carl Randall, who is rebuilding after losing his home in the fire, previously told The California Post that erosion and the fragile bluff have complicated construction from the start.

“We can’t be too close to the edge or the edge will collapse,” Randall said, explaining why crews have had to work in an extremely narrow space between the ocean and traffic racing along PCH.

Randall said he had asked the city to move the highway farther inland to create more room for construction, but was granted only half the distance he requested. He also described the rebuilding process as a “battle,” requiring multiple engineering reviews and approvals unique to building along Malibu’s coastline.

The latest erosion is likely to heighten concerns for homeowners still weighing whether to rebuild or sell altogether. More than a year and a half after the Palisades Fire, only a fraction of destroyed beachfront homes have begun reconstruction, with many residents citing soaring construction costs, permitting hurdles and uncertainty over Malibu’s changing coastline.

Temporary chemical toilets and hand-washing stations have been installed after the erosion damaged a water line serving the public restrooms.

Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors and Public Works officials are continuing to assess the damage, and there is no estimate for when the road, parking lot or beach access will reopen.

The dangerous conditions were fueled by powerful southerly swells generated by Hurricane Genevieve, which battered Southern California beaches this week with 5- to 7-foot waves, dangerous rip currents and coastal flooding.

The closures will remain in place until further notice as county crews assess the damage — the latest setback for a stretch of Malibu coastline where many residents are still struggling to rebuild after the Palisades Fire.

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