Mulholland Drive closed in Beverly Crest after mudflow damages retaining walls on hillside

BEVERLY CREST, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A mud and debris flow damaged several retaining walls on a hillside in Beverly Crest, prompting the closure of Mulholland Drive and the evacuation of a nearby home, officials said.

The problem was reported at about 8:35 a.m. in the 13100 block of West Mulholland Drive, according to Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

No injuries or physical entrapments were reported.

Humphrey said one of several terraced retaining walls on a one-third- acre residential property gave way, causing mud to "cascade downhill" onto Mulholland Drive.

"As the damaged retaining wall was 50 feet downhill from the residence, the home was not directly damaged," Humphrey said. "As a precaution, an elder male resident and his caretaker have been calmly evacuated from the premises, and are temporarily staying with a neighbor."

The two people who live in the home were evacuated as a precaution but crews have since been working to get them back home.

The area has seen strong rainstorm activity in the past few days, but Humphrey said the fire department cannot determine the specific cause of the debris flow.

Motorists were urged to avoid the area until more is known.

"Because the debris flow is threatening a power pole and mud remains on Mulholland Drive, that mountain top thoroughfare will remain fully closed between Coldwater Canyon Avenue on the east and Deep Canyon Drive on the west until L.A. City agencies can comprehensively assess and address the situation," officials said.

The section of Mulholland Drive is expected to remain shut down for at least 24 hours.

Meanwhile in south L.A., rain caused the roof to collapse at Universal Community Health Center. The damage was made worse because the collapsing roof broke a sprinkler pipe, sending more water gushing into the clinic.

READ MORE: Storm collapses roof at nonprofit South LA medical clinic, causing $500,000 in damage

City News Service contributed to this report.