Live 100-pound aerial bomb from World War II washes up near Outer Banks lighthouse

The historic Cape Hatteras Light Station grounds were closed Thursday after a bomb appeared in the surf at Buxton on the Outer Banks, according to the National Park Service.

A half-mile safety perimeter was established to keep tourists out, including the lighthouse grounds, nearby parking lots and surrounding beach, officials said in a release. The iconic lighthouse, with its famous black and white stripes, dates to 1870.

“After careful examination, a U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit from Norfolk, Virginia, confirmed that the object ... is a live military ordnance,” the National Park Service said in an update Thursday night.

“The U.S. Navy EOD unit has placed the unexploded ordnance, described as a 100-pound aerial bomb from the World War II era, deep inside the beach near the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Beach Access parking area. At around 9 a.m. October 23, the unit will detonate the ordnance in place.”

After a three-hour delay, the device was successfully detonated at 12:30 p.m. with C-4, and the explosion sent sand 60 feet into the air, the park reported. The delay was due to a large house fire in Buxton that damaged multiple homes.

Military training exercises were common in waters off the Outer Banks during World War II, and objects resembling torpedoes and mines have a history of washing ashore, McClatchy News has reported in the past. In some instances, the bombs are buried in the sand and may be revealed by rough surf, the newspaper reported.

“The discovery of old military devices is not uncommon along the Outer Banks,” National Parks of Eastern N.C. Superintendent David Hallac said in the release. “Cape Hatteras National Seashore visitors should always be on the lookout for beach hazards, especially during and after periods of rough surf.”

The object, which likely washed ashore, was found at the edge of the surf at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Beach Access, officials said.

Park officials said the surrounding area was reopened shortly after the successful detonation.

“Cape Hatteras National Seashore appreciates the significant efforts and expertise provided by U.S. Navy EOD Detachment Norfolk,” Hallac said in a release. “Their immediate response helped protect visitors and nearby structures.”

This story was originally published October 22, 2020 at 3:01 PM with the headline "Live 100-pound aerial bomb from World War II washes up near Outer Banks lighthouse."