2nd LD: 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."

Meanwhile, the U.S. military's Pacific

Command said on Saturday there was no threat to Hawaii, which is a chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean, and is home to the U.S. Pacific Command.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission announced that it was initiating a full probe into the incident. Enditem