Tsunami Waves Hit Hawaii After Massive Earthquake Near Russia; Oprah Winfrey Responds to Online Accusations
Tsunami waves have begun striking Hawaii following a powerful 8.8-magnitude undersea earthquake near the Kamchatka Peninsula in eastern Russia. Authorities urged residents in Hawaii to seek higher ground, prompting mass evacuations by car.
Amid the chaos, social media lit up with accusations against Maui resident and former talk show host Oprah Winfrey. Viral claims alleged that she refused to open a private road on her estate to assist evacuees in reaching safer areas—sparking widespread outrage online.
The tsunami alert was issued late Tuesday after the earthquake struck, and the first waves reached Hawaii later that night. Early Wednesday, tsunami waves were also recorded along Northern California’s coastline.
Back near the quake’s epicenter, buildings in Russia sustained damage—including the collapse of a kindergarten. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Russian state media outlet TASS declared a state of emergency in the affected region.
In response to the backlash, Winfrey has publicly addressed the accusations, which have since been debunked by officials.