EARTHQUAKE PREDICTION AND THE NECESSITY FOR EARTHQUAKE PROTECTION PROGRAMS IN IRAN

Attempts for earthquake prediction have been made in different parts of the world as well as Iran which is located in a seismic area and a region vulnerable to earthquakes. The developments in the capability of predicting earthquakes may prove in future, but it needs additional scientific work at the present. Furthermore, it is obvious that prediction can not prevent buildings and facilities from damage and even destruction if they have not been designed to resist the earthquake induced forces. Therefore, the priority should be focused on the protective provisions that should be taken for encountering an earthquake. In this paper, it is aimed to have a brief review on the earthquake prediction first along with emphasizing on the necessity of expanding protective and preventive provisions such as strengthening the existing non-resistant buildings, planning pre-, mid-, and post-earthquake emergency programs, and improving the seismic design codes and standards. At the end, few suggestions are also proposed.