A frightening crack has ripped through a coastal bluff beneath one of California’s most luxurious resorts, raising fears that incoming storms could trigger a collapse above a popular beachside trail, as reported by The New York Post.

The fissure is located directly below The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel in Dana Point. Beneath it runs the heavily trafficked Salt Creek Point trail, which hundreds of beachgoers, walkers, and surfers use daily.

Local videographer Craig Whetter of Breaking Even TV recorded footage of the fracture in mid-November. His video revealed a prominent split running through the bluff overlooking Salt Creek Beach.

Whetter described the crack while warning about its position above the busy walkway. His footage highlighted the potential danger facing people traveling beneath the damaged section of cliff.

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“There is a new crack in town, ladies and gentlemen, and it lives right above that Salt Creek Point trail,” Whetter said in the video.

“It’s right above a very, very popular walkway that people use all day… it’s putting a lot of people in danger.”

The discovery has alarmed locals and surfers as approaching atmospheric rivers threaten to deliver heavy rain and powerful surf. Those conditions have intensified concerns about a potentially dangerous collapse along the already vulnerable bluff.

Rainwater could seep into the opening and saturate the surrounding soil. That process could add weight to the bluff as the storms move across Orange County and expose the fracture to additional moisture.

Powerful waves pose a separate threat at the base of the cliff. Pounding surf could eat away at the sand supporting the bluff, leaving the damaged coastal formation under pressure from above and below.

The Salt Creek Point trail also provides access to popular surfing breaks known as the Point, Middles and Gravels. Its location beneath the visible fracture has made the crack especially troubling for those who regularly use the area.

Officials have not confirmed a geological assessment establishing the depth of the fracture. Without that determination, the full condition of the bluff and the seriousness of the visible split remain officially unresolved.

There also has been no confirmed finding that the luxury resort above faces an immediate structural threat. The unanswered questions leave attention fixed on the cliff, the trail and the approaching weather.

The crack appeared as Orange County was already dealing with another major coastal erosion emergency. That separate problem developed beneath Pacific Coast Highway near El Morro at Crystal Cove State Park in October.

The fissure near El Morro measured roughly 360 feet long and 2 feet wide. Its appearance demonstrated the scale of the coastal damage already confronting another section of the county.

Damage at Crystal Cove State Park forced closures of southbound lanes and prompted a $4 million emergency stabilization project. Crews placed giant sandbags and tarps in an effort to protect historic beach cottages below.

The National Weather Service initially forecast rain and gusty winds moving into Orange County on Friday. The forecast also indicated that additional coastal punishment could follow the first round of weather.

Forecasters warned that King Tides were expected from Nov. 22 through Nov. 27. Those tides were projected to bring unusually high water levels capable of causing further erosion at the base of vulnerable coastal bluffs.

At Salt Creek Beach, the concern centers on the combination of rain entering the crack and waves striking the support below. Both hazards are approaching while the fracture remains positioned over a trail used by hundreds of people each day.

For now, the ominous split remains plainly visible beneath The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. Officials have not confirmed its depth or found that the resort faces an immediate structural threat, but the incoming storms have ensured the bluff will remain under scrutiny.