MEGA EARTHQUAKE OF 8.7 IN RUSSIA: THE WATER IS RECEDING IN THE BAY OF PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY

A massive earthquake of magnitude 8.7 struck the eastern coast of Kamchatka minutes ago. It is the strongest on the planet since the 9.0 in Japan in 2011. The epicenter is 136 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, only 18 km deep.

! Witnesses report that the water is receding rapidly in the bay, exposing the seafloor a classic sign of an imminent tsunami. Russian authorities have ordered immediate evacuation: "DO NOT approach the coast UNDER ANY circumstances to view the tsunami".

ACTIVE ALERTS: Tsunami Warning for the Aleutian Islands of Alaska and all of Hawaii. Tsunami Watch for THE ENTIRE west coast of the US from California to Alaska. Japan expects waves of up to 3 meters. The first waves could reach California at 1:15 AM local time.

ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL:

Shemya, Alaska: 4:46 PM

Unalaska: 6:45 PM

Hawaii: next 3 hours

California: after midnight

This is the eighth largest earthquake recorded in history. The Kamchatka Peninsula is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, the same area that generated the devastating tsunami of 2004. Waves can last up to 45 minutes and surround entire islands.