Hurricane Ernesto triggers house collapse in Cape Hatteras, coastal areas in Rodanthe shut down

Hurricane Ernesto is causing significant damage along the North Carolina coast. On Friday evening, an unoccupied house collapsed and washed away on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Due to the incident and dangerous conditions, the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge is asking visitors to avoid all beaches and surf in the Rodanthe area.

Several other homes in Rodanthe have been damaged, and debris poses a significant risk for miles along the coastline. As a result, all public access from the northern end of Rodanthe to the Jug Handle Bridge is closed.

This incident marks the seventh house collapse on Seashore beaches in the past four years.

No injuries have been reported in connection with any of these incidents.