United States: California landslide blocks Highway 1 May 20

Event

A massive landslide that occurred on Saturday, May 20, has blocked a roughly 0.5 km (0.33 mi) stretch of California’s Pacific Coast Highway (PCH; also called Highway 1 or State Route 1) in Big Sur, about 37 km (23 mi) south of Monterey. The highway remains covered in roughly 10-12 m (32-40 ft) of dirt and debris and will remain closed indefinitely. There were no injuries reported as the highway had already been closed for some time due to previous slides in the area.

Context

Landslides are common along the west coast of the United States. The region experienced one of the wettest winters in decades and has experienced multiple slides since January 2017.

Advice

Individuals in the region are advised to monitor local reporting and avoid areas directly impacted by the landslide. Plan alternate transportation routes due to the indefinite closure of the PCH.