Seismologist Stephen Hicks of University College London (UCL) says the large earthquake that has struck Turkey near the Syrian border is 'a sort of worst-case scenario' due to its magnitude and its position close to the surface. He explains that in recent decades the East Anatolian Fault has seen fewer earthquakes than the Northern Anatolian fault, nearer Istanbul, but there is historical evidence that very large earthquakes have occurred here before. He adds that, unfortunately, poor building standards mean Turkey is more vulnerable to large tremors than earthquake-prone nations with stricter codes such as Japan. SOUNDBITES