In a neighborhood on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in Southern California, natural gas service was cut off to 135 homes on Monday as conditions worsened in the area where a long-running landslide had damaged homes, roads and utilities, authorities said.
Southern California Gas Co. cited a “significant strain” on its infrastructure as the reason for its weekend announcement that it would shut off natural gas supplies to homes in the Portuguese Bend neighborhood of Rancho Palos Verdes.
“We regret this unexpected interruption of service,” the company said in a statement. “The dynamic situation requires that we take immediate action to protect public safety.”
According to the company, the ground moves up to 22.8 centimeters per week.
The gas company said it would provide $2,500 to each account holder to help with immediate needs such as laundry and meals. It did not provide a cost estimate for restoring service.
Portuguese Bend is one of several neighborhoods in an area that has experienced landslides in the past. In the spring of 2023, significant earth movement occurred following heavy winter rains. It is believed that water seeping into the ground is lubricating the earth.
Earlier this year, earth movements forced the demolition of the landmark Travelling Chapel to prevent it from being destroyed. There is hope that it can be rebuilt in another location.