Landslides force power cuts in upscale LA neighbourhood

Scores of homes perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in LA County have had their electricity shut off amid steadily worsening landslides.
The community of Rancho Palos Verdes – 25 miles (40km) south of downtown Los Angeles – has long grappled with unstable land, but authorities say the problem has worsened in recent months.
Now, utility companies are stepping in, fearing fires and other destruction caused by rapidly shifting land while some residents insist on staying in their multi-million dollar homes.
The decision by power utility company Southern California Edison on Sunday cut electricity to 140 homes in the neighbourhood of Portuguese Bend, with further cuts possible.
“The movement has accelerated dramatically over the last 12 months, where some areas are moving up to 10 inches (25cm) a week,” said city council member David Bradley, according to CNN.
“You can almost see the ground move.”
An additional 105 customers in the city of 42,000 people were notified that they would lose power on Monday.
Last week, a downed powerline sparked a small wildfire in Portuguese Bend.