CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — The Marine Corps apologized last week after a system malfunction erroneously triggered a tsunami warning siren at a base on Okinawa.

The alarm sounded on Camp Foster at approximately 6 p.m. Friday, Lt. Col. Dan Huvane, a spokesman for Marine Corps Installations Pacific, told Stars and Stripes by email Monday.

Officials from Marine Corps emergency management were able to quickly correct the malfunction and the service sent out a mass message by phone and email to inform the community, Huvane said. He wasn’t sure how long it took to correct the malfunction.

“Our Marines, sailors, civilians, and families place a great deal of trust in us to provide timely notification of potential emergencies, and it’s a top priority of the command to maintain that trust,” Huvane said.

The malfunction serves as a reminder of the importance of alertness and preparation, he added.

About an hour after the siren was heard, the service posted an apology on MCIPAC’s Facebook page.

“The tsunami warning heard on Camp Foster was a false alarm due to a system malfunction,” the post said. “We apologize for any confusion.”