Landslides destroy millions of homes in California, and the situation is getting worse

The deep landslides beneath multimillion-dollar homes in Rancho Palos Verdes moved at an almost glacial pace, until they stopped.

This affluent Southern California coastal city about 30 miles south of Los Angeles has long drawn people with its Pacific Ocean views and lush greenery. But it sits atop a complex of slow-moving landslides that have been active since the 1950s, causing the land to shift about a few feet per year. Recently, after intense winter rains, the pace and magnitude of the movement has increased.

This past weekend saw a drastic acceleration, with devastating consequences.

Homes now lie unevenly spread ...