Find out why cracks are emerging in Los Angeles and how they affect its residents
United States.- Recently, videos have gone viral showing the large cracks in Rancho Palos Verdes, a city within Los Angeles, California. The seriousness of the situation has led Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency. Here we explain the causes of this phenomenon.
Sinkholes in roads, property collapses and even fires have been reported, causing widespread panic among residents. Fearful of accidents, they are reluctant to evacuate their homes and permanently lose their property.
Why do cracks form in Los Angeles, California?
The cracks are caused by accelerated landslides, observed over the past 12 months, with entire areas collapsing by up to 25 centimetres weekly. The situation has been aggravated by recent heavy rains.
Since 1956, with the expansion of Crenshaw Boulevard, experts have warned of the dangers of urbanizing the peninsula because of a system of ancient landslides. As the fissures have widened, authorities have invested millions in infrastructure repairs. The governor’s emergency declaration seeks to mobilize state resources to mitigate the landslides.
Rancho Palos Verdes, the epicenter of the emergency, is located about 40 kilometers south of downtown Los Angeles. This residential enclave, composed mainly of mansions with views of the Pacific and Catalina Island, faces power outages and cuts to essential services due to the ground movement.
On August 29, 2024, a fire broke out near Portuguese Bend after a power pole fell and was affected by landslides. Fortunately, the fire was quickly brought under control.
Residents of Rancho Palos Verdes are clinging to hope for effective solutions, such as drilling wells to extract groundwater that causes the landslides, while research continues to better understand the ground movements and find lasting solutions.
