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Hawaii sends out missile alert by mistake Hawaii alert: False missile alert sparks panic
(35 minutes later)
People across the US state of Hawaii received a text on Saturday morning, warning of an impending missile strike. An incoming missile alert plunged residents of Hawaii into panic on Saturday morning before it was declared to be false.
It was declared a false alarm shortly afterwards, but not before panic started to spread. Mobile phone users received a message saying: "Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill."
"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!" The alert system is in place because of the potential proximity of Hawaii to North Korean missiles.
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. In December, the state tested its nuclear warning siren for the first time since the end of the Cold War.
It was unclear how the initial mistake was made. It is still 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. 'Full blown panic'
It came amid a growing threat from North Korea's missile and nuclear programme. Hawaii is the closest state to North Korea. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser says emergency officials mistakenly sent the message out by text, all in capital letters, 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.
In a tweet, the state's Emergency Management Agency (EMA) said simply: "NO missile threat to Hawaii."
EMA spokesman Richard Repoza said the agency was trying to determine what had happened, the Associated Press news agency reports.
The agency describes reaction in the state as "full-blown panic".
Jamie Malapit, owner of a Honolulu hair salon, texted clients to say he was cancelling their appointments and closing his shop for the day, AP reports.
He said he had still been in his bed when his phone started ringing "like crazy".
Afterwards, he was still "a little freaked out" and feeling paranoid even after hearing it was a false alarm, AP adds.
According to the CNBC news channel, the alert "momentarily put recipients into a state of frenzy, with scores reportedly running for shelter".
The alert came amid a growing threat from North Korea's missile and nuclear programme. Hawaii is the closest US 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. Last month, the Star-Advertiser also reported that a missile launched from North Korea could strike Hawaii within 20 minutes of launch
Were you sent one of these alerts? Or do you know someone who was sent an alert? Please tell us your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
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