Beachfront Stilt House COLLAPSES in Outer Banks, 12th Home Lost
BREAKING: A stilt house in Buxton, North Carolina, has dramatically collapsed into the surf, marking the 12th beachfront home lost to the Atlantic Ocean in just five years. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon at the north end of Hatteras Island, sending debris strewn across the beach and raising urgent concerns about coastal erosion.
The two-story wooden structure, which was unoccupied at the time of the collapse, fell into the ocean, littering the sandy shore with hazardous nail-studded remnants. Mike Barber, a spokesman for the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, confirmed the event, stating, “Seashore staff are out today, cleaning up the beach to the south of the collapse site.” Officials are working swiftly to ensure public safety in the area.
Cleanup efforts are underway, as the homeowner has enlisted a contractor to focus on removing the remaining structure and nearby debris. This latest collapse adds to the troubling trend of coastal homes succumbing to relentless erosion, with the previous 11 incidents occurring in the village of Rodanthe, famous for its picturesque scenery and references in novels by Nicholas Sparks.
Just last week, residents kept a close eye on two other beachfront houses in Rodanthe during Hurricane Erin, but those structures withstood the storm’s impact, unlike the collapsed home less than a mile from the iconic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. The lighthouse itself was relocated 2,900 feet inland in 1999 to protect it from similar erosion threats.
As coastal communities grapple with the increasing frequency of such collapses, the urgency to address the ongoing issues of climate change and rising sea levels becomes more pronounced. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by homes along the coast.
Stay tuned for further updates as cleanup continues and authorities assess the situation.
