A landslide under part of the Casa Romántica cultural center in San Clemente sent dirt and debris cascading down a hill Thursday, severely damaging the center’s concrete terrace and shutting down all rail services in the area.
The slip occurred early Thursday afternoon, prompting Metrolink to shut down rail service south of Laguna Niguel, while Amtrak officials said service had been halted south of Irvine. .
Metrolink spokesman Scott Johnson said the service was suspended out of an abundance of caution and would reopen once it was safe. Johnson said affected passengers can get up to $50 in Uber vouchers through Metrolink to travel through the closure area.
The restoration will reconnect Los Angeles, the Inland Empire and Orange County with San Diego County.
The suspension of service includes the closure of routes between Oceanside and Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo. This affects the line between the Inland Empire and Orange County and the Orange County line
The collapse came nearly two weeks after Casa Romántica officials first reported an earth movement which caused cracks in the patio of the beachfront property.
The San Clemente City Council this week approved a $75,000 contract with a geological contractor to study ground movement and develop a plan to shore up the hill.
According to a report from city staff, the landslide was first detected on April 16 and reported to the city the next day, with the facility reporting impacts to its concrete deck but no actual building movement.
Councilman Victor Cabral said only a few inches of ground movement had occurred each day, but on Thursday about 20 feet gave way, taking parts of the concrete patio with it.
No injuries were reported, but site reports indicate that a residential structure down the hill from the cultural center had been tagged red due to concerns about further earth movement.
The landslide happened about two miles north of where the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is finishing construction to shore up a slope near the Cyprus Shore HOA in San Clemente, authorities said.