BUXTON, N.C. (WAVY) – Four more houses collapsed in Buxton Tuesday, marking the 12th house collapse in the Outer Banks community since Sept. 30 and the 14th along Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Two homes, located at 46002 Ocean Drive and 46223 Tower Circle Road, fell around 10:45 and 11 a.m., according to the National Park Service.
Another two houses collapsed in the afternoon, located on 46003 Ocean Drive and 46016 Cottage Avenue, around 12:45 and 1 p.m. respectively.
As the seashore consistently erodes due to daily effects of winds, waves, and tides, along with rising seas and storms, the seashore properties are being brought to the water’s edge.
The recent severe weather events, such as Hurricane Helene and Erin, have caused these oceanfront structures built several hundred feet away from the ocean in the 1970s through the 1990s to collapse.
The debris spread from the fallen houses may result in reduced beach access and safety for visitors, a loss of habitat for shorebirds and sea turtles, and pollution, says the National Park Service.
For more information on beach erosion, visit the link here.
