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Earthquakes are extremely difficult to predict although scientists now know which areas have a higher risk and can identify frequency patterns from previous earthquakes.

As a result, active earthquake zones are closely monitored for seismic activity including the use of tiltmeters and laser equipment to measure earth movements and sophisticated sound recording equipment to monitor earth tremors.

In developed countries such as the USA, constructing earthquake-proof buildings such as the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco which sways with the movement of the earth, has helped to reduce the damage caused by earthquakes.

Some countries practise earthquake drills, eg Tokyo in Japan, as routinely as some places have fire drills. Emergency services are better prepared and equipped to deal with such a disaster.

Despite all of these measures there were few warnings or successful predictions of the Indian Ocean tsunami. Most of the countries affected were developing countries without the funds for these sophisticated methods of detection.

They also lacked the improved communications which might have allowed them to evacuate coastal areas in time. The only warning they received was the retreat of sea water from beaches before the wave hit.