• Landslides force power cuts in upscale LA neighbourhood
• Gas and water services had already been disconnected
• Residents have been urged to evacuate but some refuse to leave their multi-million-dollar homes
• The 680-acre landslide, active for decades, has accelerated due to heavy rainfall

Landslides force power cuts in upscale LA neighbourhood

Scores of homes in Rancho Palos Verdes, a coastal community 25 miles south of Los Angeles, have lost electricity as landslides worsen in the area. Southern California Edison cut power to 140 homes in Portuguese Bend on Sunday, citing concerns about potential fires and other hazards from the shifting ground. Gas and water services had already been disconnected.

The 680-acre landslide, active for decades, has accelerated due to heavy rainfall in recent years. While authorities have urged residents to evacuate, the move remains voluntary. Some residents are choosing to stay in their multi-million dollar homes despite the risks. 

The landslide, one of the largest active in the U.S., traces back to the 1956 expansion of Crenshaw Boulevard, and the city spends around $1 million annually to repair roads affected by ongoing ground movement. Deputies are now using drones to monitor the area as the situation unfolds.