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Two Buxton Oceanfront Homes Collapse as High Surf Batters Outer Banks

Hazardous onshore winds intensify erosion, prompting debris cleanups plus beach closures.

Overview

  • Two unoccupied houses at 46002 Ocean Drive and 46223 Tower Circle Road in Buxton collapsed around 10:45 and 11 a.m. Tuesday, according to seashore officials.
  • The latest failures bring the total to 24 oceanfront home collapses on Cape Hatteras National Seashore since 2020, including 13 recorded in 2025.
  • The National Weather Service has a Coastal Flood Warning in effect through Wednesday with breaking waves of 10 to 15 feet and up to 3 feet of inundation on parts of the Outer Banks.
  • Forecasters warn that ocean overwash will likely render sections of N.C. Highway 12 on Hatteras and Ocracoke inaccessible at times.
  • Beach closures cover a 0.15‑mile stretch in Rodanthe from East Point Drive to Surfside Drive and about 1.5 miles in Buxton north of off‑road vehicle ramp 43 due to dozens of threatened structures.