A spokesperson for Oprah Winfrey has denied claims that she closed public access to a road on her private Maui estate during the tsunami evacuation triggered by an 8.8-magnitude earthquake near Russia.
The quake, which struck on Tuesday (July 29), prompted evacuation orders across the Hawaiian islands, urging residents to move to higher ground overnight. Winfrey was accused online of shutting the road that cuts through her $100 million Maui property, but her team set the record straight in a statement to Deadline.
“As soon as we heard the tsunami warnings, we contacted local law enforcement and FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) to ensure the road was opened. Any reports otherwise are false,” the statement read. “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 Maui Police Department also confirmed the road was accessible amid the evacuation order. “Oprah’s road is open to get Upcountry,” the department stated.
The tsunami warning has since been downgraded to an advisory. According to the BBC, a four-foot wave approached Oahu on Tuesday, while Maui’s north-central shore near Kahului recorded a five-foot wave. A wave of similar size also hit Hilo.
Evacuation orders were issued not only in Hawaii but also along the U.S. West Coast and in Japan.
