(NewsNation) — The Atlantic Ocean has claimed another home on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, and erosion and rising seas are threatening more oceanfront structures.

The National Park Service (NPS) announced that the beach from Sea Haven Drive to South Shore Drive in Rodanthe is temporarily closed after an unoccupied home at 24131 Ocean Drive probably collapsed around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The five-bedroom house had stood since 1970, The Washington Post reported. It’s the sixth house collapse on Seashore beaches over the past four years, NPS said.

Several homes have collapsed over the years on the Outer Banks as erosion has left several structures that were built years ago right at the edge of the ocean. Seas near Rodanthe have risen by 4.6 inches since 2010, according to a Washington Post analysis.

Officials have spent millions on beach nourishment, but that hasn’t stopped the ocean from pulling a few houses into its clutches.

It’s caused homeowners to move their homes further inland from the pounding surf; however, in many cases, it’s not a long-term solution and may only buy some time.

Meanwhile, others have sold their homes to NPS, which tore them down and turned the area into a public beach after purchasing the homes for $700,000, according to The Washington Post.

Some residents argue that local officials and NPS need to do more to protect the shoreline and residents who live nearby; however, some officials argue those who live nearby must accept a measure of responsibility, the outlet reported.

An engineering assessment undertaken by Dare County found many residents want extensive beach nourishment that would cost as much as $40 million. Additionally, the report found maintaining that beach over 30 years would cost more than $175 million.