LAUSR

Earthquake prediction is one of the challenging problems of seismology. The present study intended to setup a routine prediction of major earthquakes in the Iranian plateau using a modification of the intermediate-term middle-range algorithm M8, in which original version has demonstrated high performance in a real-time Global Test over the last two decades. An investigation of earthquake catalog covering the entire the Iranian plateau through 2012 has shown that a modification of the M8 algorithm, adjusted for a rather low level of earthquake occurrence reported in the region, is capable for targeting magnitude 7.5+ events. The occurrence of the April 16, 2013, M7.7 Saravan and the September 24, 2013, M7.7 Awaran earthquakes at the time of writing this paper (14 months before Saravan earthquake occurrence) confirmed the results of investigation and demonstrated the need for further studies in this region. Earlier tests, M8 application in all over the Iran, showed that the 2013 Saravan and Awaran earthquakes may precede a great earthquake with magnitude 8+ in Makran region. To verify this statement, the algorithm M8 was applied once again on an updated catalog to September 2013. The result indicated that although the study region recently experienced two magnitude 7.5+ earthquakes, it remains prone to a major earthquake. The present study confirms the applicability of M8 algorithm for predicting earthquakes in the Iranian plateau and establishes an opportunity for a routine monitoring of seismic activity aimed at prediction of the largest earthquakes that can play a significant role in mitigation of damages due to natural hazard.