Wed Jul 30 19:07:04 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text, followed by a news article rewrite based on that information:
**Summary:**
A magnitude 8.8 earthquake in Russia triggered tsunami warnings in Hawaii, specifically on the island of Maui where Oprah Winfrey owns property. Social media users falsely accused Winfrey of blocking a private road on her property, preventing evacuees from reaching safety. Winfrey’s spokesperson refuted the claims, stating that her team contacted authorities to ensure the road was open. Maui officials confirmed the road was available for evacuation, and local law enforcement was managing traffic through it. The tsunami warning was later downgraded. This is not the first time Winfrey has been the target of disinformation campaigns regarding events in Maui.
**News Article:**
**Oprah Winfrey Denies Blocking Evacuation Route During Hawaii Tsunami Scare**
**Washington – July 31, 2025 -** Oprah Winfrey is refuting widespread social media claims that she blocked a private road on her Maui property, preventing residents from evacuating during a tsunami warning triggered by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Russia.
Following the earthquake, tsunami alerts were issued for the Hawaiian Islands, including Maui, where Winfrey owns a residence. Online, accusations quickly surfaced that Winfrey was refusing to open her private road to evacuees, creating traffic congestion and hindering residents’ ability to reach higher ground.
Nicole Nichols, a spokesperson for Winfrey, strongly denied the allegations. “Any reports otherwise are false,” Nichols said in a statement to AFP. “Ms. Winfrey’s team contacted local law enforcement and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to ensure the road was opened as soon as we heard the tsunami warnings.”
Maui officials also confirmed that Winfrey’s road was indeed open and available for evacuation. “Oprah’s road is open to get Upcountry,” the Maui Police Department stated in an emergency alert. Nichols further clarified that law enforcement was assisting residents by allowing 50 cars at a time to pass through the road and that the route would remain open as long as necessary.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center later downgraded the situation to a tsunami advisory, and Maui authorities lifted evacuation orders.
This is not the first time Winfrey has been the target of misinformation regarding events in Maui. In 2023, she faced false claims related to the devastating wildfires.
This latest incident highlights the speed and ease with which false information can spread online, particularly during times of crisis.
First Piper 