House in Outer Banks collapses into sea, latest incident on North Carolina coast

Another house collapsed into the sea on North Carolina’s Outer Banks early Tuesday morning, authorities said, the latest collapse in the coastal region where erosion continues to take its toll.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore said in a news release Tuesday that it has begun cleanup efforts at the site of a collapsed unoccupied home in Rodanthe, North Carolina. The agency said the home, located at 24131 Ocean Drive, likely collapsed around 2:30 a.m. local time Tuesday morning.

Authorities have closed a one-mile stretch of beach between Sea Haven Drive and South Shore Drive to “ensure the safety of visitors and to allow for cleanup efforts,” the release said. Officials urged visitors to avoid beaches north of Sea Haven Drive in the southern part of the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, where debris is expected to drift.