Oprah's Maui Road Was Open During Tsunami Evacuations

Oprah Winfrey has refuted online accusations that she blocked access to a private road on her Maui property during tsunami evacuations triggered by an 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. Her spokesperson and local authorities confirmed that the road was opened immediately after warnings and that residents were allowed through safely under law enforcement supervision. Viral social media posts alleging the road was closed were labeled false by fact-checkers and officials. Maui County and emergency agencies reiterated that the route was available to evacuees, with no evidence supporting claims of obstruction. The tsunami warnings have since been downgraded and evacuation orders lifted, with no major casualties or damage reported in Hawaii. The incident underscores the challenge of combating misinformation during emergencies and the importance of verifying claims with official sources.