Exact Moment Houses Collapse in the U.S. After Hurricanes Strike

House collapse in North Carolina

Hurricanes generate giant waves

Debris covers Buxton beaches

A drone video captured dramatic scenes in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, where several homes were swallowed by the sea and collapsed within minutes.

At least five houses in the coastal community of Buxton collapsed Tuesday afternoon, all within a span of just 45 minutes, according to officials from Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

The massive waves, driven by the combined force of Hurricanes Humberto and Imelda, struck the coast with full force and left behind a scene of devastation.

Authorities reported that, despite the shocking event, no injuries were recorded among residents or visitors in the area.

House Collapse in North Carolina

Drone video captured homes that collapsed into the ocean on North Carolina’s Outer Banks on Tuesday amid rough surf from dual hurricanes off the Southeast coast.

Five homes fell within a 45-minute period on Tuesday afternoon, and a sixth fell overnight. https://t.co/f8zQoRYVLd pic.twitter.com/U66IOjihPN

— AccuWeather (@accuweather) October 1, 2025

During a live broadcast Wednesday morning, FOX meteorologist Katie Byrne confirmed that a sixth house collapsed later that night.

Three of the affected homes were located on Cottage Avenue in Buxton, while two others were on nearby Tower Circle Road, both communities hit hard by the storm surge.

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The sixth property that fell into the ocean was also on Tower Circle Road, underscoring the vulnerability of this area to the Atlantic’s power.

In released footage, the structures—gradually weakened by coastal erosion—can be seen sliding into the water until they were completely destroyed by the waves.

Damage Caused by Hurricanes in Outer Banks

HOMES COLLAPSE: A drone video shows homes along North Carolina’s Outer Banks collapsing into the Atlantic Ocean after massive waves kicked up by hurricanes Humberto and Imelda pounded the coast. More: https://t.co/gjGV0kHkYb pic.twitter.com/5NkXYvfgrH

— FOX Weather (@foxweather) October 1, 2025

“I don’t know how this is going to be cleaned up quickly. There’s a lot of debris,” said Koontz, a North Carolina local resident who witnessed the house collapse.

He added that he fears the situation could repeat itself in the coming days, as waves remain strong with no sign of letting up.

Officials from the National Park Service warned that the remains of the houses pose a risk to people walking along the beach, since wood, roofing, and other materials are scattered across the coastline.

In recent days, both Humberto and Imelda have been spinning in the Atlantic, generating powerful swells that have affected not only North Carolina, but also communities in the Bahamas, Bermuda, and other parts of the U.S. East Coast.

The impact on the Outer Banks adds to a long list of problems tied to erosion and the vulnerability of homes to increasingly powerful storms.

Experts warn that these phenomena have become more frequent, putting thousands of families living in high-risk coastal areas in danger.

Meanwhile, the Buxton community now faces the challenge of cleaning up tons of debris and adapting to a hurricane season that has only just begun.