Panic in Hawaii over warning of ‘ballistic missile strike’

An investigation is underway after a false emergency alert warning of a ballistic missile headed for Hawaii was sent out.

The US Federal Communications Commission has confirmed it is looking to get to the bottom of how the mistake occurred.

All Hawaiian residents and some tourists received the alert (pictured above) to their phones around 8.07am local time, while TV stations also broadcast the warning, sending the holiday islands into full panic mode.

Witness have told of people loading up their cars to get to family, while some ran to the nearest WWII bunker, some of which can be accessed through manholes on the street.

It took officials 38 minutes to confirm it was a ‘false alarm’.

It’s believed a worker ‘pushed the wrong button’ during a shift change.

JUST IN: Hawaii Governor David Ige tells CNN that someone “pushed the wrong button” during an employee shift change, sending out the false alert about an incoming ballistic missile https://t.co/FD1vl6fCzh pic.twitter.com/2zhXLApLcr

— CNN (@CNN) January 13, 2018