The Washington PostThe Washington Post

Why it's so hard to predict an earthquake

By Pranshu Verma

07 Feb 2023 · 4 min read

Editor's Note

"Why didn't anyone know the earthquake was coming?" The Post explains why it's now impossible for scientists to forecast an earthquake, and whether this might change in the future.

Houses crumbled and buildings flattened within seconds of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria early Monday morning, leaving rescue workers scrambling to find survivors among the dead.

The horror of the near-instantaneous destruction raises a question: Why didn't anyone know the earthquake was coming?

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