Outer Banks home falls into the ocean, highlighting a grim trend. See the photos.

Posted on by knews.uk

On Friday, residents of Rodanthe in North Carolina’s Outer Banks witnessed another unfortunate, but increasingly common occurrence: a house collapsing into the ocean.

The combination of high tides and waves from Hurricane Ernesto, located hundreds of miles away, contributed to the latest collapse that took place on Hatteras Island in Rodanthe. No one was in the house at the time, according to reports.

Rodanthe, a community of approximately 184 inhabitantshas lost seven homes to the sea in the past four years, according to National Park Service. Much of that can be attributed to climate change, according to New York Times.

Officials are warning that more homes are at risk as Ernesto continues to affect the East Coast, although the storm is not expected to make landfall in the United States. The National Hurricane Center warned that Ernesto will bring potentially “life-threatening” rip currents and high surf along the East Coast, particularly in North Carolina and South Carolina, in the coming days.

Here are some photographs of the aftermath of Friday’s house collapse – as well as images of Rodanthe’s coastal erosion over the years.

Ocean waves erode the beach behind 12 Beach Houses on Seagull Street on the Outer Banks of North Carolina in 2022.Ocean waves erode the beach behind 12 Beach Houses on Seagull Street on the Outer Banks of North Carolina in 2022.

Ocean waves erode the beach behind 12 waterfront homes on Seagull Street on the Outer Banks of North Carolina in 2022. (Jahi Chikwendiu/Washington Post via Getty Images)

Water and sand cover Seagull Street, which was completely flooded by the Atlantic waves in 2022. Water and sand cover Seagull Street, which was completely flooded by the Atlantic waves in 2022.

Water and sand cover Seagull Street, which was completely flooded by the Atlantic waves in 2022. (Jahi Chikwendiu/Washington Post via Getty Images)

A North Carolina Department of Transportation worker clears ocean-driven sand from Surfside Drive on North Carolina's Outer Banks.A North Carolina Department of Transportation worker clears ocean-driven sand from Surfside Drive on North Carolina's Outer Banks.

A North Carolina Department of Transportation worker clears ocean-driven sand from Surfside Drive on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. (Jahi Chikwendiu/Washington Post via Getty Images)

Outer Banks residents stand where a swimming pool once stood in their backyard on the Outer Banks beach in 2022.Outer Banks residents stand where a swimming pool once stood in their backyard on the Outer Banks beach in 2022.

Outer Banks residents stand where a pool once stood in their beachfront backyard on the Outer Banks in 2022. (Jahi Chikwendiu/Washington Post via Getty Images)

The beach, shown in 2023, is eroding rapidly along the shoreline adjacent to Ocean Drive.The beach, shown in 2023, is rapidly eroding along the shoreline adjacent to Ocean Drive.

The beach, shown in 2023, is rapidly eroding along the shoreline adjacent to Ocean Drive. (Jahi Chikwendiu/Washington Post via Getty Images)

The beach home in Rodanthe, NC, lower right, shown in January 2023, was brought down by the Atlantic waves in March 2023. The beach home in Rodanthe, NC, lower right, shown in January 2023, was brought down by the Atlantic waves in March 2023.

The beachfront home in Rodanthe, NC, bottom right, shown in January 2023, was toppled by the waves of the Atlantic Ocean in March 2023. (Jahi Chikwendiu/Washington Post via Getty Images)

Ocean waves slowly erode the beach on the Outer Banks in 2023. Ocean waves slowly erode the beach on the Outer Banks in 2023.

Ocean waves slowly erode the beach on the Outer Banks in 2023. (Jahi Chikwendiu/Washington Post via Getty Images)