Southern California waves damage homes, disrupt rail

California’s Southern coast is facing worsening erosion and flooding as long-term sea-level rise combines with powerful waves, high tides and storms intensified by El Niño. Beaches are shrinking, while coastal homes and infrastructure have been damaged: residents have evacuated in Long Beach and Malibu, homes have been destroyed or threatened in Orange County, and erosion has repeatedly disrupted a busy rail line near San Clemente. Officials and scientists warn that the damage reflects a broader pattern, with rising seas expected to push shorelines farther inland and extreme weather making immediate risks more visible. San Clemente residents are considering a local tax to help restore the beach, even as experts say there is no way to hold back the ocean.