Storm Forces Road Closures, Sinkhole Rescue, Mudslides Across LA

LOS ANGELES, CA – Torrential rain has forced the closure of several roads across Los Angeles County as rain, mud and debris blocked roads, created potholes and caused crashes across the South.

The powerful storm, which is expected to move through Los Angeles through Tuesday, dumped more than 10 inches of rain in some areas. Rainfall amounts in Los Angeles County were 1-2 inches as of late Monday night, with up to 3 more inches expected Tuesday morning, forecasters said.

On Tuesday morning, a slide involving a large boulder caused the closure of Malibu Canyon Road in the unincorporated Santa Monica Mountains north of Malibu, according to Los Angeles County Public Works. The road was closed between Civic Center and Piuma Way, north of the tunnel.

Big rock! Malibu Canyon Rd is closed from the Civic Center to Piuma Way due to rocks in the road north of the tunnel. For the latest #LARain closures, updates and status on all #LACounty roads, go to https://t.co/0iPoqTNUNK. Drive safely and be careful of hazards. @CERTMalibu @MalibuVOP pic.twitter.com/nrTBWtxbCl
— MalibuPublicSafety (@MalibuEOC) January 10, 2023

Firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department rescued two people who were trapped inside a vehicle at the bottom of a 15-foot-deep sinkhole in Chatsworth Monday night.

The hole was reported just before 7:30 PM Monday at 11414 Iverson Road. According to the authorities, one car fell on top of the other. Two people were able to get out on their own, but two others were trapped as the road continued to collapse on top of them.

“Firefighters then secured the vehicles to restrict traffic, which had already happened twice. The road was continuing to crumble and deteriorate, necessitating an immediate rescue to save their lives,” the Fire Department spokeswoman said of Los Angeles, Margaret Stewart. “Firefighters performed a high-angle rope rescue using aerial ladders and safely extricated both patients.”

“The road is completely compromised and impassable to traffic and not even able to support emergency vehicles,” Stewart added.

#Chatsworth; Two cars in a pit with one on top of the other. @LAFD rescued two trapped people. pic.twitter.com/K8c4UGS6Ro
— (@PIOErikScott) January 10, 2023

Elsewhere, a 3- to 5-foot mudslide touched seven homes in Studio City and prompted firefighters to clear North Fredonia Drive of debris, according to Stewart. There was no damage to the home and 17 people were sheltered in place, according to the LAFD. Two homes on Wrightwood Lane were affected by debris flow that entered the backyard of one home with about 1 foot of mud. The other house has debris on the side. There were eight people sheltered in the country in two houses. No injuries were reported.

The LAFD is asking drivers to avoid the areas from Wrightwood Lane to Fredonia Drive and Lankershim and Cahuenga boulevards for road services to clear the roads.

The floods affected highway traffic on the highways of the region. All northbound lanes of the Santa Ana Freeway (5) were closed at Lankershim Boulevard in Sun Valley. In Alhambra, the 10 westbound freeway connectors to the northbound and southbound 710 freeways were closed, according to Caltrans.

Caltrans reported that downed trees and overflowing river water caused by landslides forced the closure of Topanga Canyon Road between Pacific Coast Highway and Mulholland Highway.

According to the California Highway Patrol, a mudslide was blocking all southbound lanes and part of the northbound side of North Topanga Canyon Boulevard in the 3300 block as of 8:15 a.m. Nearby Fernwood Pacific Drive was also affected by the flow of garbage on Tuesday morning. Cleanup is ongoing and drivers are advised to avoid the area.

Slick roads from rain caused rush hour blowouts on SR-134 and the Ventura Freeway (101) Tuesday morning.

Due to debris and mud, the road leading in and out of the 1110 block of North Beverly Glen Boulevard in Bel-Air is closed until further notice, according to the LAFD.

In Hollywood Hills West, a quarter acre of hillside came down near at least two residences in Hollywood Hills West during Tuesday evening’s storm.

SEE ALSO: A quarter-acre crumbles in a Hollywood landslide

Motorists are advised to avoid areas of heavy flooding and affected areas.

City News Service and Patch staff contributed to this report.