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Another house collapses on North Carolina’s Outer Banks
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Another house collapses on North Carolina’s Outer Banks

RODANTHE, NC – A third home has collapsed along Cape Hatteras National Seashore, underscoring the continuing threat of erosion and rising sea levels for North Carolina’s Outer Banks.

The National Park Service is advising visitors to avoid the beach and stay out of the water at the north end of Rodanthe and possibly for miles south after an unoccupied home collapsed early Friday morning.

Officials with Cape Hatteras National Seashore are keeping a close eye on a neighboring home that sustained damage from the collapse. The NPS has warned that there may be hazardous debris on the beach and in the water, leading to the temporary closures.

A contractor hired by the property owner to clear the debris will begin cleanup efforts Friday, with assistance from NPS personnel.

According to the NPS, this is the eighth house to collapse on this beach in the past four years. No injuries have been reported.

WATCH: HURRICANE ERNESTO’S SWELLING CAUSES NORTH CAROLINA HOUSE TO FALL INTO THE OCEAN

In August, waves from Hurricane Ernesto caused at least one home along the Outer Banks to collapse. Dare County Emergency Management said the home was in danger of collapse long before the hurricane’s tides compromised the structure.

When the Category 2 hurricane struck, it was more than 1,000 miles away from the Tar Heel State. However, the combination of rough surf and high tides caused significant erosion and coastal flooding along the barrier islands.

According to the NPS, the daily effects of wind, waves and tides, along with rising sea levels, play a significant role in coastal erosion along Cape Hatteras National Seashore.