California coastal erosion is sending homes into the ocean
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An aerial view of waves breaking near eroding cliffs on the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner rail corridor at the Pacific Ocean coastline on August 16, 2024 in Del Mar, California. Rising sea levels and stronger storms have contributed to increased erosion and landslides along the vital Amtrak Pacific Surfliner coastal rail corridor which runs over 350 miles through Southern California to California’s Central Coast. Erosion and landslides on coastal bluffs led to three extended closures along the route in 2023 and 2024 and twelve shutdowns in the past six years. With climate change expected to bring more intense storms and higher seas, most officials believe vulnerable sections of the corridor will need to be moved inland. The scenic route is the second-most popular Amtrak corridor in the country and also serves commuter and freight trains. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Images from the Californian coastal city of Rancho Palos Verdes show homes precariously close to collapsing into the Pacific Ocean. The creep of the coastline back due to erosion has caught some residents by surprise, but it is not an isolated incident — with many communities up and down the state facing similar problems.
