The government of Hawaii did not have reasonable safeguards in place that would have prevented the transmission of a false alert about an imminent missile strike, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission has said.

Ajit Pai said in a statement on Sunday an FCC investigation is well under way into the false alert that sounded on hundreds of thousands of mobile phones across Hawaii.

Officials are gathering facts about how Saturday’s false alert was issued.

(Caleb Jones/AP)(Caleb Jones/AP)

Mr Pai says information collected so far shows it appears Hawaii did not have safeguards or process controls in place.

Hawaii’s emergency management agency’s administrator said he took responsibility for the mistake.

The state adjutant general said a written report would be prepared.

State politicians announced they would hold a hearing next Friday.

In a conciliatory news conference, Hawaii officials apologised for the mistake and vowed to ensure it will never happen again.

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Vern Miyagi said the error happened when someone hit the wrong button.

Vern Miyagi, Administrator, HEMA, left, and Hawaii Governor David Ige addressed the media (George F. Lee /The Star-Advertiser via AP)Vern Miyagi, Administrator, HEMA, left, and Hawaii Governor David Ige addressed the media (George F. Lee /The Star-Advertiser via AP)

“We made a mistake,” said Mr Miyagi.

For nearly 40 minutes, it seemed like the world was about to end in Hawaii, an island paradise already jittery over the threat of nuclear-tipped missiles from North Korea.

The emergency alert, which was sent to mobile phones statewide just before 8.10am, said: “Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill.”

On the H-3, a major road north of Honolulu, vehicles sat empty after drivers left them to run to a nearby tunnel after the alert showed up, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.