Updated at 1:48 PM Eastern to reflect update from the Pacific Command
Several smartphone users in Hawaii received an emergency alert on Saturday which read “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.”
Considering the United States’ elevated tensions with North Korean dictator Kim Jung Un, who suffers from tiny man syndrome, panic immediately set in across the internet.
Not only did smartphone users receive an alert, but sirens were going off in Hawaii.
6 mins into our ride here in Hawaii and this is the text I just received? Not sure what to do. Sirens are going off. pic.twitter.com/D5USDAw3wp
— Emily Batty (@emilybatty) January 13, 2018
Roughly 15 minutes after Twitter exploded with screenshots of the emergency alert, Hawaii Congresswoman eased the panic with confirmation that it was a false alarm.
HAWAII – THIS IS A FALSE ALARM. THERE IS NO INCOMING MISSILE TO HAWAII. I HAVE CONFIRMED WITH OFFICIALS THERE IS NO INCOMING MISSILE. pic.twitter.com/DxfTXIDOQs
— Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) January 13, 2018
The U.S. Military’s Pacific Command put out a statement after the false alarm that “it has detected no ballistic missile threat to Hawaii. Earlier message was sent in error…”
At this time, it’s unclear what was the cause of the error.
One Twitter user offered an astute observation:
Not to be alarmist but isn’t this exactly the kind of screwup that … could accidentally start a nuclear war?
— Mike Hogan (@mike_hogan) January 13, 2018
We will update this story as more information becomes available.
