Five more houses along North Carolina’s Outer Banks were swallowed by the sea this week as powerful surf from Hurricane Humberto and Tropical Storm Imelda battered the coastline.
Officials confirmed the homes collapsed Tuesday afternoon in Buxton, marking yet another devastating chapter for the fragile barrier islands. These collapses bring the total to 17 homes lost over the last five years, with the most recent incident occurring just two weeks ago.
Alex Littlehales was documenting damage from the first home collapse when four neighboring houses gave way within 45 minutes. Fortunately, Cape Hatteras National Seashore reported all five properties were vacant when they fell.
The homes, located on Cottage Avenue and Tower Circle Road, were reduced to debris between 2 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. The National Park Service has since closed the beach from northern Buxton through Off-Road Vehicle Ramp 43, warning visitors to steer clear of unstable wreckage and hazardous conditions.
No injuries were reported, but officials stressed the dangers of collapsing structures and debris washing into the surf.
The weather team issued Weather Impact Alerts through Wednesday, citing threats of high surf and dangerous rip currents.
House collapses along the Outer Banks have become increasingly common as storms intensify and erosion worsens. In November 2024, a string of four collapses struck Rodanthe in just over a month, raising alarms about the long-term sustainability of oceanfront development in the region.
The Cape Hatteras National Seashore continues to monitor at-risk properties and has more details about threatened structures on its official website.
