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Hawaii missile false alarm triggers shock, blame and apologies | Hawaii missile false alarm triggers shock, blame and apologies |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Residents and visitors in Hawaii have been recalling the shock of a false missile alarm, with many saying they thought they were going to die. | Residents and visitors in Hawaii have been recalling the shock of a false missile alarm, with many saying they thought they were going to die. |
The alert of an incoming ballistic missile was sent wrongly on Saturday morning by an emergency system worker. | The alert of an incoming ballistic missile was sent wrongly on Saturday morning by an emergency system worker. |
Victims of the ordeal spoke of hysteria and panicked evacuations. | Victims of the ordeal spoke of hysteria and panicked evacuations. |
The false alarm sparked recriminations, with state officials apologising and President Donald Trump's response called into question. | The false alarm sparked recriminations, with state officials apologising and President Donald Trump's response called into question. |
Why was the alert sent? | Why was the alert sent? |
It was a mistake by an employee at Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency (EMA) who "pushed the wrong button" during procedures that occur during the handover of a shift. | It was a mistake by an employee at Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency (EMA) who "pushed the wrong button" during procedures that occur during the handover of a shift. |
The message was reportedly sent despite an onscreen prompt requesting confirmation. | |
Mobile phone users received the message at 08:07 (18:07 GMT): "Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill." | Mobile phone users received the message at 08:07 (18:07 GMT): "Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill." |
The alert was corrected by email 18 minutes later but there was no follow-up mobile text for 38 minutes, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports. | The alert was corrected by email 18 minutes later but there was no follow-up mobile text for 38 minutes, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports. |
The alert system is in place because of the potential proximity of Hawaii to North Korean missiles. | The alert system is in place because of the potential proximity of Hawaii to North Korean missiles. |
So how did people react? | So how did people react? |
For some it was panic, a dash to a protective bathtub or hiding under manholes, contemplating what could be their last moments. For others, a resigned acceptance, thinking that staring at the beauty of Hawaii was not a bad way to go. | |
Hassan Deen, a student at Hawaii Pacific University, told the BBC the alert sparked a frenzy and he was locked for 47 minutes with 29 other students in a room with rubbish bins. | Hassan Deen, a student at Hawaii Pacific University, told the BBC the alert sparked a frenzy and he was locked for 47 minutes with 29 other students in a room with rubbish bins. |
Emma Hine, who is visiting Hawaii from the UK, told the BBC: "It was one of the worst experiences because I actually thought we were going to die. I've got a daughter - Chloe - back home in the UK and I thought 'I'm not going to get a chance to say goodbye'. Everyone was genuinely terrified." | Emma Hine, who is visiting Hawaii from the UK, told the BBC: "It was one of the worst experiences because I actually thought we were going to die. I've got a daughter - Chloe - back home in the UK and I thought 'I'm not going to get a chance to say goodbye'. Everyone was genuinely terrified." |
Her son, Lewis, a disability campaigner, suffered a seizure due to stress. | Her son, Lewis, a disability campaigner, suffered a seizure due to stress. |
Marathon runner Lucja Leonard said she had heard of children being "pushed into drainpipes to get them protected". | Marathon runner Lucja Leonard said she had heard of children being "pushed into drainpipes to get them protected". |
"We all just huddled together and just thought - well, you know - if this is going to be the end I guess we're in a beautiful place, doing something we love but - God - it was pretty scary." | "We all just huddled together and just thought - well, you know - if this is going to be the end I guess we're in a beautiful place, doing something we love but - God - it was pretty scary." |
The false alarm also threw golfers at the PGA Tour's Sony Open at the Waialae Country Club into panic. | The false alarm also threw golfers at the PGA Tour's Sony Open at the Waialae Country Club into panic. |
Steve Wheatcroft said "everyone is freaking out", although Justin Thomas was more laid back, saying: "I sat on my couch and opened up the sliding door and watched TV and listened to music. I was like, if it's my time, it's my time." | Steve Wheatcroft said "everyone is freaking out", although Justin Thomas was more laid back, saying: "I sat on my couch and opened up the sliding door and watched TV and listened to music. I was like, if it's my time, it's my time." |
What are the recriminations? | What are the recriminations? |
Hawaii state officials were profusely apologetic. | Hawaii state officials were profusely apologetic. |
Governor David Ige said: "I am sorry for the pain and confusion it caused. I, too, am extremely upset about this." | Governor David Ige said: "I am sorry for the pain and confusion it caused. I, too, am extremely upset about this." |
A federal investigation has started in the state and officials said they would work to ensure such a false alarm never happened again. | A federal investigation has started in the state and officials said they would work to ensure such a false alarm never happened again. |
Vern Miyagi, administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, also apologised for the "inadvertent mistake" but said the threat was still there. | Vern Miyagi, administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, also apologised for the "inadvertent mistake" but said the threat was still there. |
"If this comes out, you're going to have only 12 to 13 minutes of warning before the actual event and please take this to heart," he said. | "If this comes out, you're going to have only 12 to 13 minutes of warning before the actual event and please take this to heart," he said. |
The apologies didn't satisfy some. Democratic House Representative Tulsi Gabbard said: "Everyone in America needs to understand that if you had to go through this, you would be as angry as I am." | |
Brigette Namata, a television reporter in Honolulu, said it was "mind-boggling that we have officials here, we have state workers that are in charge of our public safety and a huge, egregious, mistake like this happened". | Brigette Namata, a television reporter in Honolulu, said it was "mind-boggling that we have officials here, we have state workers that are in charge of our public safety and a huge, egregious, mistake like this happened". |
Has anything already been done to fix this? | |
One of the problems was that the alert system did not allow for a correction to be sent quickly to mobiles. | |
State officials said a "cancellation template" would be created to address the problem, the New York Times reported. | |
Two people are also now required to sign off the issuing of an alert, it said. | |
State lawmakers are going to hold a hearing next Friday. | |
Is the president under fire? | Is the president under fire? |
Unsurprisingly, his critics have rounded on him for his perceived lack of response or comment. | Unsurprisingly, his critics have rounded on him for his perceived lack of response or comment. |
Former defence department employee under President Barack Obama, Patrick Granfield, said "thank God the President was playing golf". | Former defence department employee under President Barack Obama, Patrick Granfield, said "thank God the President was playing golf". |
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis tweeted that the scare is "on YOU Mr Trump... Shame on your hate filled self". | Actress Jamie Lee Curtis tweeted that the scare is "on YOU Mr Trump... Shame on your hate filled self". |
Mr Trump's supporters have equally unsurprisingly defended him, pointing the blame at Hawaii and its Democratic government. | Mr Trump's supporters have equally unsurprisingly defended him, pointing the blame at Hawaii and its Democratic government. |
YourVoice America host Bill Mitchell tweeted: "So some dummy in Hawaii accidentally pushes the wrong button when Trump is playing golf and suddenly, 'Trump plays golf while we are under nuclear attack!' is the headline? I mean, c'mon." | YourVoice America host Bill Mitchell tweeted: "So some dummy in Hawaii accidentally pushes the wrong button when Trump is playing golf and suddenly, 'Trump plays golf while we are under nuclear attack!' is the headline? I mean, c'mon." |
The White House simply said Mr Trump had been briefed about the incident and called the alert "purely a state exercise". | The White House simply said Mr Trump had been briefed about the incident and called the alert "purely a state exercise". |
His only tweet after the incident on Saturday was a general diatribe against "Fake News" and the "Mainstream Media", while on Sunday he addressed immigration and the economy. | |
Why was Hawaii already on edge? | Why was Hawaii already on edge? |
North Korea's missile and nuclear programme is seen as a growing threat to America. Hawaii is one of the US states closest to North Korea. | North Korea's missile and nuclear programme is seen as a growing threat to America. Hawaii is one of the US states closest 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 reported that a missile launched from North Korea could strike Hawaii within 20 minutes of launch. | Last month, the Star-Advertiser reported that a missile launched from North Korea could strike Hawaii within 20 minutes of launch. |
So Hawaii has reintroduced Cold War-era warning sirens. During a test last month, it was reported that 93% of them worked properly, although some could hardly be heard and 12 played the ambulance siren. |
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