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Hawaii ballistic missile alert latest: 'Whole state terrified' after text message sent by mistake | Hawaii ballistic missile alert latest: 'Whole state terrified' after text message sent by mistake |
(35 minutes later) | |
A text alert warning people to seek immediate shelter from an incoming ballistic missile sparked panic across Hawaii after it was sent out in “human error”. | A text alert warning people to seek immediate shelter from an incoming ballistic missile sparked panic across Hawaii after it was sent out in “human error”. |
The message, issued to mobile phones on Saturday morning, read in block capitals: “Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill.” | The message, issued to mobile phones on Saturday morning, read in block capitals: “Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill.” |
The text was sent out by the national Emergency Alert System, designed to allow the US government to warn Americans within 10 minutes of authorities learning of a threat. | The text was sent out by the national Emergency Alert System, designed to allow the US government to warn Americans within 10 minutes of authorities learning of a threat. |
The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency later confirmed the alert was a false alarm, but many complained authorities were slow to assure the public there was no threat. | |
The agency said: ”NO missile threat to Hawaii. False alarm. We’re currently investigating.” | |
It agency gave no explanation for the erroneous alert but a US Senator for Hawaii said the text was sent due to “human error”. | |
“What happened today is totally inexcusable,” added Brian Schatz. “The whole state was terrified. There needs to be tough and quick accountability and a fixed process.” | “What happened today is totally inexcusable,” added Brian Schatz. “The whole state was terrified. There needs to be tough and quick accountability and a fixed process.” |
He added: “There is nothing more important to Hawaii than professionalizing and fool-proofing this process.” | He added: “There is nothing more important to Hawaii than professionalizing and fool-proofing this process.” |
According to CNN, Hawaii governor David Ige said the alert was issued when an employee "pushed the wrong button" during a shift change. | |
The state last year reinstated a Second World War-style missile warning system amid fears of an attack by North Korea. The sirens did not sound when the erroneous text alert was issued. | |
Tulsi Gabbard, Democratic Representative for Hawaii, said she spoken to officials to confirm there was no threat. | |
“Hawaii – this is a false alarm,” she tweeted. “There is no incoming missile to Hawaii. I have confirmed with officials there is no incoming missile.” | “Hawaii – this is a false alarm,” she tweeted. “There is no incoming missile to Hawaii. I have confirmed with officials there is no incoming missile.” |
The US military’s Pacific Command, which is headquartered in Hawaii, said it had “detected no ballistic missile threat” to the state. | The US military’s Pacific Command, which is headquartered in Hawaii, said it had “detected no ballistic missile threat” to the state. |
“Earlier message was sent in error and was a false alarm,” it added. | “Earlier message was sent in error and was a false alarm,” it added. |
The missile alert caused panic among Hawaiians, who rushed for shelter and called family members to say goodbye before it became clear it was a false alarm. | |
Many complained they were not told the alert was a false alarm for more than half an hour after the initial warning was issued. | |
Carla Herreria, a journalist in north Hawaii community of Haleiwa, said she “texted everyone in my family that I loved them en-route to a place to hid with other family members”. | |
“I saw civilian cars pulling over to alert other pedestrians to take cover,” she wrote on Twitter. “The alert may have been a mistake, but it caused chaos and mass fear for island residents. And it lasted for more than 30 minutes before the state corrected the mistake.” | |
Jamie Malapit, owner of a Honolulu hair salon, texted his clients that he was cancelling their appointments and was closing his shop for the day after receiving the erroneous alert. | Jamie Malapit, owner of a Honolulu hair salon, texted his clients that he was cancelling their appointments and was closing his shop for the day after receiving the erroneous alert. |
He said he was still in bed when the phone started going off “like crazy”. He thought it was a tsunami warning at first. | He said he was still in bed when the phone started going off “like crazy”. He thought it was a tsunami warning at first. |
“I woke up and saw missile warning and thought ‘no way’. I thought ‘No, this is not happening today’,” Mr Malapit said. | “I woke up and saw missile warning and thought ‘no way’. I thought ‘No, this is not happening today’,” Mr Malapit said. |
He was still “a little freaked out” and feeling paranoid even after hearing it was a false alarm. | He was still “a little freaked out” and feeling paranoid even after hearing it was a false alarm. |
“I went from panic to semi-panic and ‘Are we sure?”’ he added. | “I went from panic to semi-panic and ‘Are we sure?”’ he added. |
Hawaii last year brought back sirens which had not been tested since the Cold War in response to an escalating war of words between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. | Hawaii last year brought back sirens which had not been tested since the Cold War in response to an escalating war of words between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. |
Experts believe a North Korean missile could take just 20 minutes to reach Hawaii, leaving people with little time to react. | Experts believe a North Korean missile could take just 20 minutes to reach Hawaii, leaving people with little time to react. |