Why cant we predict the next big earthquake?

   Why cant seismologists predict the next quake? Its a question that many people are asking, and its a fustration. In the 1970s and 1980s scientist quoted that short time predictions were just around the corner.Several decades later,the earthquake science community is older and wider. Now we have learned that, in short the prediction is really tough.To make the prediction accurate,we would need to identify a reliable precursor, some signals we could also observe which might tell us wether a big quake is imminent. So far,the earth simply does not provide any observable signal to tell us a big quake is on the way. When seismologists are asked whether earthquakes can be predicted,they tend to be quick and answer no. Sometimes even seismologists  forget that in many of the ways that matter the most,earthquakes are too predictable.We call it forecasting. This basically means that we know where the active earthquakes zones are on the planet.And for most of these zones we have quite a good estimate,based on various types of data,of the excepted long term average rates of earthquakes.
Preparing for the great quake!
   We can say with confident that in many of these zones,the next big quake might not be within the lifetime  of an individual alive today,but is very likely to occur within the lifetime of many of the buildings constucted today.For example,Japan,California,the caribbean,Turkey,and the Himalayan front are some our best assessments of hazard show relatively higher. Any active plate boundary is fair game for a big earthquake any time.The scientific consensus is that the horrible quakes, approaching and exceeding magnitude 9, are restricted to subduction zones such as the one where a magnitude-9 earthquake triggered the Japan tsunami. Along the type of plate boundary. So basically, what I am trying to say is if you are located on one of the planets hot zone, then you are endanger,and must move to a different location,anywhere but a hot zone.Take Japan for example, where the risk from aftershocks is substantial.
Now, many scientists are pessimistic that prediction will ever be possible, although the jury is still out. Research continues with increasingly sophisticated methods and data.We know for sure that preparedness remains our best defense against devastating earthquakes. As tragic as the disaster in Japan is, it clearly would have been much worse without that country's decades of investment in preparedness.