Isla Vista Apartments Evacuated Due to Cliff Erosion

[Updated: Tue., Feb. 6, 2024, 2pm]

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Evacuation efforts were underway Tuesday morning in Isla Vista after a large chunk of an oceanside balcony at an apartment on the 6700 block of Del Playa Drive broke off due to cliff erosion, according to Santa Barbara County Fire spokesperson Scott Safechuck.

The slide occurred at around 9:50 a.m., Safechuck said, resulting in four apartment units being evacuated. At least 45 people have been displaced.

The slide comes at the tail end of a record-breaking storm that brought life-threatening flooding to the county and triggered evacuation orders and a governor-issued state of emergency over the weekend. On Monday afternoon, the City of Santa Barbara Parks and Rec department reported a landslide had occurred at Shoreline Park. In a social media post showing drone footage of the slide, it warned residents: “Heavy rain can erode and destabilize bluffs. Always stay away from the edge, adhere to all posted closures, and never go around fences. They are for your safety! Rockfalls and slides can happen at any time, so always use caution when walking on the beach below.”

County Supervisor Laura Capps, whose district includes Isla Vista, released a statement Tuesday morning in response to the balcony collapse in I.V. “The storms underscore the pressing need for bluff and cliff safety, as seen by a bluff-facing balcony collapse at a private property in Isla Vista this morning,” Capps said. “Thankfully no injuries have been reported and we are working with our public safety officials to evacuate the surrounding area.

“I am committed to do everything we can to keep our community safe, including constructing higher, durable fences along bluff properties in Isla Vista and educating students about the inherent dangers,” she continued. “While the heaviest of the rains is behind us, please remain exceedingly vigilant as bluff erosion continues to be a real threat.”