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Outer Banks home collapses into ocean, highlighting grim trend. See photos.

    On Friday, residents of Rodanthe on North Carolina's Outer Banks witnessed another unfortunate event that is becoming more common: a house collapsing into the ocean.

    The combination of high tides and waves from Hurricane Ernesto, hundreds of miles away, contributed to the latest collapse, which occurred on Hatteras Island in Rodanthe. Reports said no one was in the home at the time.

    Rodanthe, a community of about 184 residents, has lost seven homes to the ocean in the past four years, according to the National Park Service, much of which can be attributed to climate change, the New York Times reported.

    Officials warn that more homes are at risk as Ernesto continues to batter the East Coast, though 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 in the coming days, particularly in North Carolina and South Carolina.

    Here are some photos of the aftermath of Friday's house collapse, as well as images of the erosion of Rodanthe's coastline over the years.

    Ocean waves erode the beach behind 12 beachfront homes on Seagull Street on North Carolina's Outer Banks in 2022.Ocean waves erode the beach behind 12 beachfront homes on Seagull Street on North Carolina's Outer Banks in 2022.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The beachfront home in Rodanthe, NC, pictured below right in January 2023, was swept away by Atlantic Ocean waves in March 2023. The beachfront home in Rodanthe, NC, pictured below right in January 2023, was swept away by Atlantic Ocean waves in March 2023.

    The beachfront home in Rodanthe, NC, pictured below right in January 2023, was swept away by Atlantic Ocean waves in March 2023. (Jahi Chikwendiu/Washington Post via Getty Images)

    In 2023, ocean waves slowly erode the beach on the Outer Banks. In 2023, ocean waves slowly erode the beach on the Outer Banks.

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