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Hawaii sends out missile alert by mistake | Hawaii sends out missile alert by mistake |
(35 minutes later) | |
People across the US state of Hawaii received a text on Saturday morning, warning of an impending missile strike. | People across the US state of Hawaii received a text on Saturday morning, warning of an impending missile strike. |
It was declared a false alarm shortly afterwards, but not before panic started to spread. | It was declared a false alarm shortly afterwards, but not before panic started to spread. |
"Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill," read the message, all in capital letters. | "Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill," read the message, all in capital letters. |
Hawaii Emergency Management Agency later confirmed there was no threat. | Hawaii Emergency Management Agency later confirmed there was no threat. |
In an online statement, Honolulu Police Department said: "State Warning Point has issued a Missile Alert in ERROR! There is NO threat to the State of Hawaii!" | In an online statement, Honolulu Police Department said: "State Warning Point has issued a Missile Alert in ERROR! There is NO threat to the State of Hawaii!" |
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser said emergency officials had mistakenly sent the message out by text at 08:07 (18:07 GMT) before correcting the error by email 18 minutes later. There was no follow-up mobile text until 38 minutes after the original alert, it said. | |
It was unclear how the initial mistake was made. | |
In December, Hawaii tested its nuclear warning siren for the first time since the end of the Cold War. | In December, Hawaii tested its nuclear warning siren for the first time since the end of the Cold War. |
It came amid a growing threat from North Korea's missile and nuclear programme. Hawaii is the closest state to North Korea. | It came amid a growing threat from North Korea's missile and nuclear programme. Hawaii is the closest state to North Korea. |
In September Pyongyang carried out its sixth nuclear test. | In September Pyongyang carried out its sixth nuclear test. |
Last month, the Star-Advertiser also reported that a missile launched from North Korea could strike Hawaii within 20 minutes of launch. |