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The picturesque Casa Romantica in San Clemente, California, suffered a major setback when its bluff-top patio cracked and slid down the hillside on April 27, 2023. The slide resulted in the red-tagging and evacuation of four condos due to safety concerns. The incident also led to the suspension of rail service in the area. The damage extended to a terrace on the property, with concrete sliding perilously close to the train tracks below.
The city commissioned a $75,000 geology study to investigate the soil’s instability, as inch-long cracks appeared on the view deck earlier in the month. The situation escalated rapidly, with the terrace dropping 20 feet within a short span of time. While the condos were deemed relatively safe due to their deep caisson foundations, falling debris posed a risk to lower-level units.