Landslide Traps Families In Scotts Valley

SCOTTS VALLEY (CBS SF) -- About 25 homes in unincorporated Santa Cruz County are inaccessible due to a landslide Monday, but the blocked road does not present an immediate hazard to residents, a Scotts Valley Fire District captain said.

"The homes are affected in the sense that they have no access," Cpt. Mike Pasquini said.

The homes are located near Nelson Road and Sky Meadow Lane, he said, which is located in an unincorporated area of the county near Scotts Valley.

Pasquini said a combination of shale and mud began giving way Monday.

"Hopefully it's subsided to a point where it's stabilized," he said.

Santa Cruz County sheriff's Sgt. Joe Clarke said that the landslide began around 10 a.m., with rocks falling for hours until the road was closed around 2 p.m.

"The road is completely closed—it's impassable by car or foot," Clarke said.

About 57 people live in the affected homes, Clarke said, and they have all been contacted. "They've all said they're going to stay," he said.

Firefighters were going to try to establish a footpath, Pasquini said, to provide access to in the event of an emergency.

When asked about the potential impact of rain that is expected to continue throughout the week, Pasquini said, "The access road is going to be a nightmare for a couple of weeks."

"There's no where for the water to go," Clarke said.

The landslide poses no physical danger to the residents in the area, Pasquini said.

A county geologist responded to the site, and Clarke said that the county would announce Tuesday a plan to clear the road and when crews may be able to begin work.

Members of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office also responded to the landslide.

No injuries were reported, Clarke said.

Click here for more on Santa Cruz County road closures.

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