After North Korea's nuclear threat, residents of the small U.S. territory started preparing for possible missile strike. ( File| AP) 
World

Guam radio stations accidentally trigger emergency alert amid missile threats

Two radio stations accidentally issued emergency warnings to indicate an imminent threat or attack Guam, forcing many tensed residents to call the police.

From our online archive

HAGATNA (UNITED STATES): Guam residents received a nasty jolt Tuesday after two radio stations accidentally issued emergency warnings to indicate an imminent threat or attack, at a time when the US territory is already on edge over North Korean threats to fire missiles into nearby waters.

Several concerned listeners were reported to have called police after the stations triggered the Emergency Alert Broadcast System, issuing "a civil danger" warning at 12:25 am that was later confirmed to be a mistake. 

North Korea had said it would finalise plans by mid-August on whether to fire missiles at Guam in response to "fire and fury" threats from US President Donald Trump.

But Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Tuesday reported that Kim had examined the plans but made no move towards an immediate strike.

"Residents and visitors are reminded to remain calm," said Guam’s homeland security adviser George Charfauros.

"There is no change in threat level, we continue business as usual."

Homeland Security confirmed in a statement that the "unauthorised test was not connected to any emergency, threat or warning" and it was working with the radio stations "to ensure the human error will not occur again".

Kim on Tuesday hinted he would hold off on the missile strike, saying he would "watch a little more the foolish and stupid conduct of the Yankees spending a hard time of every minute of their miserable lot".

'TMC exit imminent': Shah predicts BJP sweep in Bengal after record voter turnout in phase 1 polls

After 560 days atop 400-foot BSNL tower, Punjab activist descends as state enacts strict anti-sacrilege law

Severly wounded Mojtaba Khamenei delegates power to generals as military takes control of Iran: Report

SC orders UP DGP to set up SIT in Ghaziabad minor rape-murder case

Meta slashes 8,000 jobs, about 10% of workforce as Microsoft offers buyouts

SCROLL FOR NEXT