Cliff collapses near Del Playa property in Isla Vista
ISLA VISTA, Calif. — Santa Barbara County personnel cordoned off a section of a beachside cliff in Isla Vista after it collapsed suddenly Thursday afternoon.
The county said the bluff is part of a private property near the 6500 block of Del Playa. The face of the cliff came crashing to the ground around 12:30 p.m.
For UCSB sophomore Lucas Krall, this was a cause for concern.
“When you hang out near the cliff, it’s very concerning that it could fall down at anytime,” he said. “I never know when it’s going to happen, nobody can know when it’s going to happen.”
County Fire Department spokesman Mike Eliason said there were no earthquakes registered in the area, so it is unclear exactly what caused the cliff to collapse.
Three other small landslides were reported recently in the area. Eliason said beachgoers and residents should keep a safe distance from the cliff equal to one-and-a-half times its height.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported in connection to the slides.
However, the largest came as complete surprise for UCSB senior Isiah Ajiboye.
“It was crazy just to see it,” he said. “You feel scared just living above the cliffs, so it’s kind of concerning.”
County Parks and Recreation set up stakes and caution tape around the collapsed section of cliff to prevent people from getting too close.
“Here on the beach, be aware that anytime this cliff might fall,” UCSB junior Harley Zieper said. “If you live up above, be aware that it might go down at anytime.”
Today, mother nature made sunbathing at the beach a bit dangerous for UCSB senior Briana Anugwom.
“It’s crazy because usually when we come out here, this is the part where we stay at,” she said. “This is crazy because that could have been us under those rocks.”
The County Fire Department is advising everyone to stay at least one and a half times the height of the cliff away, while on the beach.
“It is very smart to practice safe distancing from a cliff,” Krall concluded. “Absolutely agree with that.”
Above the cliffs, no housing structures were damaged.
