Section Of 9th Street Beach Remains Closed After Landslide

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — A landslide shut down a section of a south Orange County beach and nearby streets Friday morning, with closures lasting through the evening, authorities said.

A landslide on the bluff near 9th Street Beach in Laguna Beach prompted authorities to close the beach "until further notice." By 1:30 p.m., officials reopened both the 9th Street Beach and the Thousandsteps access-way, but the affected section of the beach will remain roped off and closed until further notice.

The landslide was reported Friday morning at 7:15 a.m., according to the City of Laguna Beach. Upon arriving to the site of the slide, firefighters said they encountered roughly "500 cubic yards of bluff material" that fell onto the beach.

No structures were directly impacted by the landslide, city officials said in a statement, but private access stairways and walkways from Point Place were damaged.

As a precaution, city officials said three homes situated above the bluff were temporarily evacuated — though, as of 2:45 p.m. Friday, evacuation orders had been lifted.

"This was a significant bluff collapse, and we responded with an abundance of caution to ensure no one was in harm’s way," Laguna Beach Fire Chief Niko King said in a statement. "Luckily no one was hurt and while there is no immediate danger, it’s important for everyone to stay clear of the closed area while assessments continue."

While the cause of the landslide was not immediately known, city officials said an assessment of the landslide and bluff would be carried out by a geologist.

No injuries were reported. At the time of the landslide, three homes situated above the collapsed bluff were evacuated out of precaution, authorities said — but evacuation orders were lifted later that day.

The landslide area will continue to be assessed by the city's Marine Safety, Public Works and the Building Division until restoration efforts can be determined, officials said.