𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗕𝗨 𝗠𝗨𝗗𝗦𝗟𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗘: Storm-Driven Slides Slam Pacific Coast Highway, Forcing Emergency Shutdown

PACIFIC PALISADES — April 26, 2025 — A portion of Pacific Coast Highway between Pacific Palisades and Malibu was shut down Saturday morning after heavy rain triggered mudslides along the burn scar left by the Palisades Fire.

Early showers saturated the hillside, sending mud and debris flowing across the highway, according to Caltrans District 7. Muddy runoff completely covered sections of the roadway, prompting emergency closures by public safety officials.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that PCH is closed from Carbon Beach Terrace to Coastline Drive. Deputies from the Sheriff's Department and officers with the California Highway Patrol were stationed at checkpoints, turning away motorists and cyclists attempting to enter the closed area.

Crews from Caltrans arrived with heavy machinery and worked to clear thick mud and debris from the roadway, while teams from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assessed slope stability in the affected areas.

Saturday’s closure comes as Southern California experiences an unusual late-season storm, raising concerns about additional slide activity in burn-affected zones.
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Santa Monica Closeup will continue to monitor cleanup operations and road conditions along the Pacific Coast Highway. Stay tuned for updates.
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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘂𝘀𝗲. 𝗔𝗻𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗿𝗲-𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗵𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱.

© 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗙𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝘄𝗸𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗰𝘇/𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗽. 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱.

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Fabian Lewkowicz is a visual journalist and the creator of Santa Monica Closeup — a raw, street-level lens on life along the Westside. Based in Santa Monica, he documents the city’s stories as they unfold: public safety, street culture, surf breaks, and breaking news. His work blends powerful imagery with unfiltered storytelling, earning spots in galleries, museums, and public installations. Whether covering a beach rescue or a political rally, Fabian captures the pulse of the coast — one frame at a time.

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