Text alert of ballistic missile threat to Hawaii false alarm, officials say

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Hawaiians on Saturday received cell phone emergency message warning of a "ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii," but officials from the U.S. state quickly dismissed as "false."

The emergency text alert sent earlier to cellphones read in all caps that "Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill."

The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency confirmed via Twitter that there is "NO missile threat to Hawaii."

"Hawaii -- this is a false alarm," U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard said on her Twitter account. "I have confirmed with officials there is no incoming missile."