Oceanfront house near Rodanthe Pier collapses; beachgoers warned of large debris field

Debris from the collapsed house (center) has been steadily spreading to adjacent properties. Rodanthe Pier located at the top. [photo courtesy Brad Hanson]

Beachgoers along northern Hatteras Island are advised to watch out for debris on the sand and in the water, after an oceanfront house collapsed this morning south of Rodanthe Pier.

The vacation rental in the 24000 block of Ocean Drive in Rodanthe was located along an area of beach that has been especially prone to erosion for more than a decade.

[photo courtesy Brad Hanson]
A house in the 24000 block of Ocean Drive in Rodanthe collapsed on Feb. 9, 2022. [courtesy National Park Service]

The bulk of the debris is at the site of the collapsed house. Debris has already been spotted off Waves and Salvo and more than seven miles away near ORV ramp 23, according to a Cape Hatteras National Seashore press release.

Debris washed up at Ramp 23 just hours after a house collapsed 7 miles to the north in Rodanthe on Feb. 9, 2022. [NPS photo]

Dare County property records show the two-story house was built in 1980 and owned by a Virginia Beach couple. Comments on social media indicate it has been condemned and was not occupied at the time of the collapse.

The National Park Service is communicating with Dare County to coordinate the removal of the house and all related debris on the beach.

This is a developing story, stay with OBX Today for updates.