ROUTE OUT

Oprah Opens Her Private Road as Locals Flee in Tsunami Panic

A warning was issued for all of Hawaii following an 8.8 magnitude quake in Russia.

Oprah Winfrey opened her private road to people in Hawaii amid a tsunami warning triggered by one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded. The 8.8 magnitude quake off Russia led to tsunami alerts across the Pacific, including in Hawaii, where the billionaire talk show host has an estate on the island of Maui. Speaking to CNN, the media mogul’s representative denied social media reports saying that a private road on Winfrey’s estate had been closed as residents tried to reach higher ground overnight. “As soon as we heard the tsunami warnings, we contacted local law enforcement and FEMA to ensure the road was opened,” the rep told CNN. “Local law enforcement is 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 71-year-old, reported by Business Insider to own around 1,000 acres in the state, is one of several celebrities who own property on the island, with others including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and actor Woody Harrelson.