Five homes collapse into Atlantic as hurricanes batter North Carolina coast
Five unoccupied homes in Buxton, North Carolina, collapsed into the Atlantic on 30 September as hurricanes Humberto and Imelda drove powerful waves against the Outer Banks. Authorities report no injuries, but debris has piled up and damage is described as “devastating.”
- Five unoccupied homes collapsed into the Atlantic on 30 September in Buxton.
- Residents described widespread devastation, with debris merging into large piles.
- Seashore officials confirmed 17 homes have collapsed along the Outer Banks in just over five years.
Five unoccupied homes collapsed into the Atlantic Ocean on 30 September, as powerful waves driven by hurricanes Humberto and Imelda hit North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
According to Cape Hatteras National Seashore officials, the collapses occurred in Buxton within about 45 minutes, beginning at 2 p.m. ET. No injuries were reported.
Three of the houses were neighbouring properties on Cottage Avenue, while two others fell on nearby Tower Circle Road.
Eyewitness accounts of destruction
Local residents described the scene as shocking and devastating. “It was insane, it sounded like bombs going off,” said resident Hunter Hicks, speaking to FOX Weather.
Photographer Jenni Koontz added, “All the houses are taking a beating. It’s devastating… it’s heartbreaking, not only for the homeowners, but for the community where we live.”
Koontz also noted that debris from the collapsed homes had merged into massive piles, complicating efforts to identify which pieces belonged to which house.
Storm impacts continue
Although hurricanes Humberto and Imelda are not making landfall along the Eastern Seaboard, they continue to generate dangerous swells along the coast. Authorities warned that the powerful waves are expected to persist through the week.
Hicks noted that renters had stayed in some of the now-destroyed properties just a month earlier, but evacuations were ordered ahead of the storms.
Ongoing risks to coastal housing
The Cape Hatteras National Seashore confirmed that another home collapsed into the ocean on 16 September. The recent incidents bring the total number of collapsed houses along the seashore to 17 in just over five years.
The Outer Banks, a thin stretch of barrier islands, are particularly vulnerable to erosion, with climate change intensifying sea-level rise and storm activity.
