Tsunami waves have begun hitting Hawaii after a major 8.8 earthquake near the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia. In Hawaii, people have been urged to find higher ground, and as people fled in their cars, claims about Maui resident Oprah Winfrey began spreading online. Claims about her not opening up her private gate to help people get to higher grounds left many furious. Now, the former talk show host has responded.
Oprah Winfrey has come under heavy fire on social media after claims about her not opening her private road on her Maui estate after people began evacuating in Hawaii following the tsunami warning on Tuesday.
The powerful 8.8-magnitude undersea earthquake off the Russian eastern coast triggered tsunami waves, with the first hitting Hawaii late on Tuesday.
Tsunami waves were also recorded on California’s northern coast early Wednesday. In Russia, near the epicenter of the earthquake, several buildings were damaged. One kindergarten collapsed, but luckily, no injuries were reported.. Meanwhile, state media TASS declared a state of emergency.
CNN reported water rushing between buildings, sweeping away large debris and damaging industrial infrastructure. Hokkaido, the northernmost island in Japan, was also hit by tsunami waves. More than two million people across 21 prefectures were under localized evacuation advisories shortly after the tsunami warning. As of now, no reports about casualties have been reported.
Besides the US, Russia, and Japan, many other countries in the Pacific were under tsunami watch, including the Philippines, Chile, Peru, Mexico, Panama, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Ecuador. Tsunami warnings were also active in Alaska.
Oprah Winfrey claimed to not have opened her private road to help with tsunami evacuation
On Maui, people raged about Oprah after a video went viral on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter. In the post, one person filmed a long line of cars, and one person claimed Winfrey was refusing to open her gated road, which would help those evacuating trying to get to safety.
“Look at this. I think they’re trying to open Oprah’s road. C’mon Oprah, save us… Everybody trying to get in. Cops trying to open it. Nope, still closed,” a man said in one viral video, in which the gates of the road were visible. “We’re stuck and a tsunami is coming.”
Oprah Winfrey owns a ranch in Kula, Hawaii, according to Hawaii News Now. The road, named Thompson Road, is, according to the news outlet, a “public road that runs through private property owned by the Oprah Winfrey Ranch.” NBC News also reported that there is a “public road that runs through Winfrey’s ranch in Kula.”
As the viral video spread, many shared their fury towards the former talk show host.
One post read, “Why hasn’t Oprah opened her road? This could save lives…” while a second user said: “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.”
A third X user claimed, “A potentially life-saving route is being kept closed while people are stuck in cars with sirens blaring.”
Oprah Winfrey responds, spokesperson says road is open and that claims are false
However, it didn’t take long before Oprah’s private road was opened, which allowed people to escape to higher and safer grounds.
“BREAKING: Following INTENSE public pressure, Oprah’s private road has been OPENED to those escaping the tsunami WELL DONE, EVERYONE! It should’ve been opened HOURS ago, but if you’re in Wailea on Maui and need to get to higher ground, USE OPRAH’S ROAD NOW! Haleakala Ranch Rd, Maui, HI.” X user Nick Sortor wrote.
A community note was added to the viral video posted on X, which has been viewed more than two million times, citing the Mau Police Department saying the road is open.
As per Newsweek, guidance under the Traffic Section of the police department’s Tsunami Warning Update, dated 7:16 p.m., July 29, reads “Maui Veterans Highway is congested; use Cane Haul Road toward Hansen and Pulehu roads to get to Kula. Road above Makena Golf Course provides access to Ulupalakua. Also, Oprah’s road is open to get Upcountry, according to Maui Police Department.”
It didn’t take long before Oprah Winfrey’s spokesperson also commented on the matter, saying that the claims about the road being closed were false.
“As soon as we heard the tsunami warnings, we contacted local law enforcement and FEMA 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,” the spokesperson told Newsweek.
Thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by the tsunami across the world.
