Los Angeles is dealing with another disaster as a powerful storm causes chaos, including a mudslide that pushed a car into the ocean, just weeks after destructive wildfires. Widely circulated footage captured a car swept away in a powerful debris flow along Malibu’s Pacific Coast Highway on Thursday. The incident occurred shortly after 5 p.m. on Thursday along PCH, as heavy rain hammered the area.
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The vehicle tumbled relentlessly toward the stormy Pacific Ocean before eventually becoming wedged in place.
Malibu mudslide: The moment a car got swept away by heavy mudflow from the PCH into the ocean. Someone inside thankfully managed to escape once the car came to a halt. #California #AtmosphericRiver pic.twitter.com/Y4PmQi3d8N
— Stephanie Fuerte (@StephanieFuerte) February 14, 2025
Local outlet ABC7 reported that the driver, a member of the LAFD, successfully escaped and made it to safety.
Dramatic footage captured the LAFD member climbing the hill and scaling a fence to reach safety after escaping the vehicle.
A member of the LAFD was transported to the hospital after his vehicle was swept away by mudflow on PCH in Malibu and landed in the ocean. He's seen here climbing a fence after escaping the wreckage.
— Austin Dave (@AustinDave_) February 14, 2025
via @keynewstv pic.twitter.com/q2DZvoQ2Qi
“Fortunately, the member was able to exit his vehicle and reach safety with minor injuries. He was transported to a local hospital as a precaution,” LAFD Capt. Erik Scott told ABC7.
Mudslides Unleashed Massive Flow of Sludge on Malibu Roads
Meanwhile, as of 11 p.m. Thursday, the wrecked SUV remained in the ocean, battered by crashing waves.
The storm brought heavy rain, with about two inches falling, causing significant damage and flooding in the Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades areas.
Just a few miles west along the PCH, a minor mudslide occurred near Las Flores Canyon Road.
“We don’t want it to happen, but Mother Nature always seems to win right here,” beleaguered Malibu resident Chris Hanson told ABC7. The mudslide unleashed a massive flow of mud onto the roads, while water surrounded the nearby buildings.
Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) remained fully closed on Thursday between Chautauqua Boulevard and Carbon Beach Terrace due to severe flooding and mudslides. The closure will stay in effect until further notice.
Firefighters waded through waist-deep floodwaters, reporting that some of the water had seeped into the iconic Duke’s Malibu restaurant.