A shallow, slow-moving landslide affected several homes in Astoria over the weekend.

As of Sunday evening, five houses had been “red tagged,” meaning they are unsafe to occupy, according to Jeff Harrington, Astoria’s public works director.

City Manager Scott Spence said the land moving near 27th Street and Grand Avenue is estimated at under 5 acres. Natural gas and water had been turned off.

“Our primary concern is to keep people safe,” Spence said. “This almost could be characterized as a rolling emergency. We’re actually seeing land movement affect people and property, so we’re just doing the best we can to respond to the situation and make sure people are not in harm’s way.”

A portion of 27th Street has buckled and cracked and residents report that at least one house has moved several inches. Officials told KMUN that they are beginning to see other signs of damage and movement.

“The best thing for the landslide right now is for it to dry out,” Spence said.

Attorney Josh Stellmon and his wife decided to leave their house and stay in a hotel downtown on Saturday night. When Stellmon checked in on things Sunday, he could hear trees cracking and falling in the distance. At his house, he saw what he believes are new cracks in the foundation along with other, more minor issues.

But, he said, “We’re lucky. And I mean that. I really feel for our neighbors.”

The home above his contains four apartment units and seems to be the most impacted by the sliding so far.

The 27th Street area — like many spots around Astoria — is historically prone to sliding.

City staff are monitoring the landslide and 27th Street remains closed. The city asked people who are not residents of the area to stay away.

The city initially received a report of a mudslide at about 10 a.m. on Saturday morning and closed a section of 27th Street as a precaution.

“Last night, I actually heard a bunch of trees breaking at like 12:30 to 1 a.m. and I looked at it and didn’t see anything, and then when I woke up this was here,” Alex Pasco, a resident, said on Saturday. He initially thought the “sewer exploded. But, it’s just mud.”