Tsunami Strikes Pacific After Major Earthquake
A powerful 8.8-magnitude undersea earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, triggering tsunami waves across the Pacific. Hawaii, California, Japan, and Russia were all affected. In Hawaii, emergency officials urged residents to evacuate to higher ground, causing widespread panic and traffic jams.
Viral Video Sparks Outrage
As residents on Maui fled inland, a viral video on X (formerly Twitter) accused Oprah Winfrey of keeping a private road on her Kula property closed. The video showed a crowd of cars and a man saying, “We’re stuck and a tsunami is coming. Oprah’s road is still closed.”
The post sparked widespread criticism. One user wrote, “This could save lives… open the road, Oprah!” Others claimed coastal residents were gridlocked with no access to higher ground.
Thompson Road: Public or Private?
Winfrey owns property in Kula, where Thompson Road runs through her estate. According to local news outlets, the road is technically public but passes through private land owned by the Oprah Winfrey Ranch.
Road Opened Amid Public Pressure
Soon after the video went viral, the Maui Police Department confirmed Oprah’s road was open. They advised evacuees to use it as an alternate route to reach higher ground.
“Maui Veterans Highway is congested,” stated a police traffic update. “Use Cane Haul Road and Oprah’s road to get to Upcountry.”
X user Nick Sortor, who initially shared the viral video, later posted: “Following intense public pressure, Oprah’s road has been opened.”
Oprah’s Team Denies Claims
Oprah’s spokesperson quickly pushed back against the criticism, saying the road was never closed.
“As soon as we heard the tsunami warnings, we contacted local law enforcement and FEMA to ensure the road was open,” the spokesperson told Newsweek. “Reports claiming otherwise are false. Law enforcement is currently guiding cars to ensure safe evacuation.”
Tsunami Impact Ongoing
So far, there are no confirmed casualties from the tsunami. However, the quake damaged buildings near the Russian epicenter, and waves also hit Japan’s Hokkaido island. Evacuation orders were issued in over 21 Japanese prefectures. Other countries, including Chile, the Philippines, and Alaska, remain on tsunami watch.
