Oprah Winfrey has hit back at claims she failed to open her private road in Maui, Hawaii after the island was hit by tsunami warnings.
Parts of the U.S. and Japan were warned about an incoming tsunami, which was triggered by an ‘one of the biggest ever’ earthquakes off Russia.
Off the back of the 8.8 megaquake, thousands of residents on Hawaii have been forced to evacuate their homes to find safety.
Residents on the island have claimed that Oprah ‘refused’ to open her private road, which would help ease congestion for those trying to escape.
Videos posted by people at the scene show gridlocked traffic jams as others claimed there are ‘thousands’ trying to leave low lying areas.
One person on X wrote: ‘Oprah won’t open her private road from Wailea to Kula, Hawaii, which would make it much easier for locals to get to higher ground.
Oprah Winfrey has hit back at claims she failed to open her private road in Maui, Hawaii after the island was hit by tsunami warnings
Residents on the island have claimed that Oprah ‘refused’ to open her private road, which would help ease congestion for those trying to escape (pictured Oprah’s estate in Hawaii)
‘Massive Traffic in Maui with thousands trying to escape the massive Tsunami coming. Open the road Oprah.’
Another claimed: ‘Oprah HAS NOT opened her private road from Wailea to Kula, Hawaii, which would allow coastal folks to reach higher ground quickly, locals tell me OPEN THE ROAD, @OPRAH.
‘Roads on Maui are GRIDLOCKED as people try to escape the incoming Tsunami.’
However, Oprah’s spokesperson has now insisted that these claims are false and that she opened the road as soon as she heard the warnings.
They said: ‘As soon as we heard the tsunami warnings, we contacted local law enforcement and FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] to ensure the road was opened. Any reports otherwise are false.
‘Local law enforcement are currently on site helping residents through 50 cars at a time to ensure everyone’s safety. The road will remain open as long as necessary.’
Residents in Hawaii were forced to evacuate from coastal areas as the entire island chain braced for the impact to strike. Water was seen receding at around 7.40pm local time, or 1.40am EST.
The California and Oregon border is now also under a tsunami warning, while advisories remained in effect for the rest of the West Coast of the United States.
The first tsunami waves hit Hawaii at 8.20pm local time, 2.20am EST. Water levels were above 4 feet in Haleiwa on Oahu’s north shore, reaching 5 feet just minutes later and causing floods.
Oahu Emergency Management warned residents: ‘Tsunami waves are currently impacting Hawaii. Take action NOW!’
In California, the first waves hit the coast at Crescent City near the Oregon border just after midnight local time, while tsunami waves hit Washington state not long after.
President Donald Trump urged Americans to ‘STAY STRONG AND STAY SAFE.’
Videos posted by people at the scene show gridlocked traffic jams as others claimed there are ‘thousands’ trying to leave low lying areas (Ala Way Harbour, Waikiki)
Locals were seen running to supermarkets to stock up on water and other essentials as Gov. Josh Green signed an emergency proclamation for the state.
‘We pray that we won’t lose any loved ones,’ the governor said in a news conference as he warned the public to not ‘go out until we give you the all clear.’
Photos posted online also showed bumper-to-bumper traffic on a Honolulu highway as residents scrambled to get to higher ground. On Oahu, the US Army and Navy opened Kolekole Pass and sections of Schofield Barracks on Oahu to help with the evacuation efforts there as at least one critical traffic accident was reported.
The National Guard is also prepared to help with any rescue efforts and Blackhawk helicopters have been deployed, but Green warned ‘it is not likely we will recover you’ if residents are swept up in the massive waves.
Beaches along the Southern California coast were closed as a safety precaution, with LAPD helicopters blaring warning sirens and ordering those on boats and at the shore to get to higher ground.
