MANTEO, N.C. (WITN) – Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) temporarily closed a stretch of beach this afternoon between the Buxton Beach Access and the area of the Buxton jetties.

Seashore staff said that they implemented the closure after substantial post-storm beach erosion was found and reports of a strong smell of fuel were received from visitors.

Beach erosion caused by distant Hurricane Franklin and Tropical Storm Idalia this week has exposed potentially hazardous infrastructure from a former military site at the end of Old Lighthouse Road in Buxton.

According to Navy – Together We Served, Naval Facility Cape Hatteras (NAVFAC Cape Hatteras) was a Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) shore terminal, one of the nine initial systems installed, located on Cape Hatteras near Buxton and adjacent to the old location of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse.

Seashore visitors are asked to stay out of the closed section of the beach until the area is further assessed and reopened for public use.