Heavy Rain causes large, Planters to fall in Rolling Hills Estates.

In Southern California’s Rolling Hills Estates, heavy rainfall led to the collapse of a significant section, measuring between 60 to 80 feet, of dirt-filled planters and flower boxes at Promenade on the Peninsula around 2 p.m. Dana Graham, situated in a realty office nearby, described the sound as resembling a severe traffic accident, noting water cascading off the top level.

Large concrete planter boxes came crashing down at a shopping mall in Rolling Hills Estates due to heavy rain on Dec. 20, 2023. photo credit (KTLA)

Mall employees promptly closed all garage entrances, and firefighters, alongside structural engineers, arrived to assess damage and clear debris. An L.A. County fire official attributed the collapse to excessive water accumulation on the planters’ facade.

This incident compounds challenges for Rolling Hills Estates, still recovering from a July landslide that destroyed a dozen homes. A November report linked the destruction to soil instability exacerbated by excessive rainfall. Ongoing storms raise concerns about further damage to homes and structures in the community.