Oprah responds to claims about keeping private road closed during Hawaii tsunami evacuation

Tsunami waves hit Hawaii after a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting mass evacuations. As panic spread, Oprah Winfrey faced backlash online for allegedly not opening a private road on her Maui estate to help residents escape. A viral video fueled public outrage, but officials later confirmed the road was open, and Oprah’s spokesperson said she coordinated with authorities from the start. The quake triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific, affecting the U.S., Japan, Russia, and more, though no casualties were reported.