Storm Forces Road Closures, Sinkhole Rescue, Mudslides Across LA

LOS ANGELES, CA — Torrential rain has forced several road closures throughout Los Angeles County as rain, mud and debris have blocked roadways, created sinkholes and triggered crashes across the Southland.

The powerful storm, 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 measuring in at 1-2 inches as of late Monday night, with as much as 3 more inches expected Tuesday morning, forecasters said.

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

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 sinkhole was reported just before 7:30 p.m. Monday at 11414 Iverson Road. One car fell atop the other, according to authorities. Two people were able to climb out on their own, but two others remained trapped as the road continued to collapse above them.

SEE ALSO: Sinkhole Swallows Cars In Chatsworth, Forcing Dramatic Rescue

As conditions worsened amid torrential downpours, Los Angeles firefighters made a dramatic rescue.

"Firefighters then secured the vehicles to limit shifting, which had already occurred twice. The road was continuing to sluff and deteriorate, necessitating an immediate rescue to save their lives," said Los Angeles Fire Department Spokeswoman Margaret Stewart said. "Firefighters conducted a high-angle rope rescue operation, using the aerial ladder, and safely extricated both patients."

"The road is completely compromised and unpassable to traffic nor is it able to support emergency vehicles," added Stewart.

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

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

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

Caltrans reported downed trees and overflowing river water caused by mudslides 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 debris flow Tuesday morning. Cleanup is ongoing, and drivers are advised to avoid the area.

Rain-slicked roads caused rush hour spinouts on SR-134 and the Ventura (101) Freeway 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 LAFD.

In the Hollywood Hills West, a quarter-acre of hillside sluffed off near at least two residences in Hollywood Hills West during due to the Tuesday evening's storm.

SEE ALSO: Quarter-Acre Crumbles In Hollywood Hills Landslide

Motorists are advised to avoid areas with excessive flooding and in the affected areas.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Contributed to this report.