The five boulders that rolled down a Palolo hillside and damaged two homes Friday probably were dislodged by "natural deterioration," a state Civil Defense official said.

Ed Teixeira, vice director of state Civil Defense, said Friday’s incident does not appear to have been generated by construction in the area.

Teixeira’s team took pictures of the area Monday and also surveyed the slope from Sierra Drive and saw "evidence" that there could be more problems in the future. "We need to mitigate the situation as quickly as possible," Teixeira said.

Two homes in the 2000 block of 10th Avenue were damaged Friday, but no one was injured.

Neither Teixeira nor Peter Hirai, deputy director of the city Department of Emergency Management, was able to estimate the extent of damage to the two houses caused by the five boulders.

The land above the homes at 2089 10th Ave. and 2091 10th Ave. where the boulders came from is privately owned. Teixeira said officials were trying to determine the exact location and declined to name an owner.

"We think we found the location, but our fact-finding is not conclusive and we are not prepared to say who owns the land. I need more information," Teixeira said.

Teixeira and Hirai said the private landowner is responsible for securing the area and settling with the owner of the damaged houses.

The incident occurred at about 5:15 p.m. Friday.

Hirai said five boulders were dislodged. Three hit the home at 2091 10th Ave. — one going through a wall and coming to rest in a bedroom.

One hit the house at 2089 10th Ave. and ended up outside the house.

A fifth boulder did not hit anything, Hirai said.