Sunset Restaurant in Malibu under threat as waves rip away coastline

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A popular California restaurant has been left vulnerable to collapse after powerful waves ate away at the road around it.

Malibu officials warned Monday that erosion near Zuma Beach could impact the bustling SoCal staple Sunset Restaurant.

The highway at Westward Beach has been closed and the water has been shut off in the area after a main was also exposed by the erosion.

Crews are piling sizable boulders next to the road to prevent it from collapsing, officials said.

“A contractor for LA County is using equipment and materials already on site to help prevent further erosion and damage. City maintenance crews are assisting with traffic control,” officials wrote Monday night.

“The City will continue assessing conditions throughout the night to determine when the road can safely reopen.”

Photos showed the fragile road, hanging off the edge of the coast with no support, that waves had eaten into.

The Sunset Restaurant, which has been temporarily closed, is popular for its position along the beach and its spectacular coastal views.

“The relaxed beach atmosphere of The Sunset Restaurant is unparalleled to any other restaurant in Southern California,” the establishment describes itself, adding in another bio that it’s a “lovely getaway from the hustle of life.”

Those in the Malibu area are stunned by the strong erosion.

“The sand is disappearing, definitely… And the ocean is, I mean these waves… I’ve never seen anything like this after growing up and going to Zuma all the time. I’ve never seen waves this big. It’s crazy,” Sabrina Pender told ABC 7.

Malibu has simultaneously endured tremendous waves and raging wildfires in recent weeks.

The Bryson Fire erupted last week, worrying residents that it could spread to the coastline. But fire officials quickly handled the blaze.

Strong swells from recent Tropical Storm Rachel battered the area and their neighbors to the south in Long Beach. An approaching storm this week is expected to generate huge waves and flooding again.

The California Post reached out to The Sunset Restaurant for comment.

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