KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C. β With Virginia and North Carolina experiencing warmer weather recently, officials of Kill Devil Hills are reminding beachgoers of the dangers of digging holes.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the Town of Kill Devil Hills said three large, unattended holes had been reported on the beach in a single day.
"We cannot stress this enough, ππππππ‘π πππ₯ππ ππ’πππ¦ π’π‘ π§ππ πππππ ππ¦ ππ«π§π₯ππ πππ¬ πππ‘πππ₯π’π¨π¦βοΈ," according to Town of Kill Devil Hills Facebook page. "Sand collapses occur in holes just a few feet deep. NEVER dig a hole deeper than it is wide. Children and adults should not dig holes deeper than their knees when standing in them."
From broken ankles to challengers with emergency responses, officials listed various safety concerns a deep sand hole poses. Officials also said deep holes can be a threat to sea creatures, saying sea turtles and their hatchlings can become trapped.
If beachgoers find themselves digging holes, however, town officials said the holes should be shallow and should always be filled in.
"Help keep everyone on our beaches safe, including yourself," the post reads.
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In May 2023, a hole dug in a back-dune area of Cape Hatteras National Seashore collapsed, entrapping a 17-year-old boy under several feet of sand. Despite emergency personnel's efforts, the Chesapeake teen died.