Can We Predict Earthquakes? Here Are the Facts
Earthquakes are one of the deadliest natural disasters that can affect living things. The most challenging challenge facing seismologists (the study of earthquakes) is predicting when an earthquake will occur.
According to the official BMKG website, no one can predict earthquakes, including when, where, or how strong they will be. Currently, experts can only confirm that a single large earthquake can trigger aftershocks.
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The phenomenon of two or three large earthquakes simultaneously (doublet or triplet earthquakes) occurring close in time and location remains difficult to predict. However, the BMKG (Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency) urges the public to take earthquake mitigation measures.
Earthquake predictions must include three elements: the date and time of the earthquake, its location, and its magnitude. Anyone claiming to be able to predict earthquakes is not based on scientific evidence because they fail to define these three elements.
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Earthquakes occur when rocks within the Earth are subjected to continuous pressure until they crack or shift suddenly. These cracks release energy, causing the earthquake.