Social media channels went crazy Saturday after screenshots of smartphone emergency alerts warning of a “ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii” began circulating, which US officials have dismissed as false. According to US military spokesman David Benham, the US Pacific Command “has detected no ballistic missile threat to Hawaii. Earlier message was sent in error,” adding that the US state would “send out a correction message as soon as possible.” Continue reading for the full news report, a bonus video, and more information.
“It’s not immediately clear what prompted the notification, and despite the quick confirmation that the report was false, the notification is a jarring one for island residents. Given the considerable tensions between the United States and North Korea, such a notification is a nightmare to receive, and could potentially erode trust in the system,” reports The Verge.
