Japanese Rescuers Search for Survivors after Deadly Earthquake

Japanese Rescuers Search for Survivors after Deadly Earthquake

日本救援人员在致命地震后寻找幸存者

【听力音频】

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　　By Bryan Lynn

　　02 January 2024

　　A series of powerful earthquakes in western Japan have left at least 55 people dead and damaged thousands of buildings, automobiles and boats.

　　The first quake struck New Year's Day, registering 7.6 in magnitude, or strength. The shaking caused major damage across Ishikawa prefecture.

　　Japanese media reports said the quake destroyed tens of thousands of homes and cut water, power and phone services in some areas.

　　The mayor in the town of Suzu, near the quake's center, said up to 90 percent of homes may have been destroyed, Reuters news agency reported.

　　The earthquake set off tsunami warnings along Japan's western coast. Officials ordered about 100,000 people to leave their homes Monday night. They were sent to schools and sports centers to take shelter. Many returned to their homes Tuesday after the warnings were lifted.

　　Japan's Meteorological Agency said about 200 aftershocks had struck since the main quake and that more were expected in coming days.

　　Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters the government had deployed teams that included military troops, police and local rescuers. "We have received reports that there are still many people waiting to be rescued under collapsed buildings," he said.

　　Kishida added that saving lives is the top goal.

　　Japan sits on the so-called Ring of Fire, a collection of volcanoes and fault lines found around the Pacific Basin. About 20 percent of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater happen in that area.

　　Monday's earthquake was Japan's deadliest since 2016. Emergency teams battled fires in several cities, as rescuers searched for people trapped in wreckage.

　　Shoichi Kobayashi lives in the city of Wajima. He told Reuters he was at home celebrating New Year's with his wife and son when the quake hit and sent furniture flying across the house. "I've never experienced a quake that powerful," Kobayashi said.

　　In the city of Nanao, Fujiko Ueno said she was celebrating with about 20 people in her home when the earthquake struck. The quake caused walls to collapse onto a parked car. Ueno said no one in the group was injured. "It all happened in the blink of an eye," she said.

　　Toshitaka Katada is a University of Tokyo professor who specializes in disasters. He told The Associated Press that people were better prepared for this event because the area had been hit by quakes in recent years. "There is probably no people on earth other than Japanese who are so disaster-ready," Katada said.

　　Government officials said several nuclear centers in the area were operating normally. A 2011 earthquake and tsunami caused three reactors to melt down and release large amounts of radiation at the Fukushima nuclear power center in northeastern Japan.

　　I'm Bryan Lynn.

　　The Associated Press and Reuters reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English.

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　　作者：Bryan Lynn

　　2024年1月2日

　　日本西部发生一系列强烈地震，至少造成55人死亡，数千座建筑、汽车和船只受损。

　　第一次地震发生在新年的第一天，震级达到7.6级。石川县遭受了严重破坏。

　　日本媒体报道称，地震摧毁了数万户住宅，并在一些地区切断了水电和电话服务。

　　路透社报道，地震中心附近的洲洲镇市长表示，可能有多达90%的房屋被摧毁。

　　地震引发了日本西海岸的海啸警报。官员们在周一晚上命令大约100,000人离开他们的家。他们被送到学校和体育中心避难。在警报解除后，许多人在周二返回了他们的家。

　　日本气象厅表示，自主震以来已经发生了大约200次余震，预计未来几天还会有更多余震。

　　日本首相岸田文雄告诉记者，政府已经部署了包括军队、警察和当地救援人员在内的团队。他说：“我们收到报告，还有许多人在倒塌的建筑物下等待救援。”

　　岸田补充说，挽救生命是首要目标。

　　日本位于所谓的“火环”上，这是环绕太平洋盆地的一系列火山和断层线。大约20%的6级或以上地震发生在该地区。

　　周一的地震是自2016年以来日本最致命的地震。在几个城市，应急队伍正在与火灾作斗争，同时救援人员在废墟中寻找被困的人。

　　小林昭一住在輪島市。他告诉路透社，当地震发生时，他正在家里和妻子、儿子一起庆祝新年，地震使家具在房子里飞来飞去。小林说：“我从未经历过那么强烈的地震。”

　　在七尾市，上野富士子说，地震发生时，她正在家里和大约20人一起庆祝。地震使墙壁倒塌在一辆停着的汽车上。上野说，团队中没有人受伤。“一切都在眨眼之间发生，”她说。

　　加多田俊孝是东京大学的一位专门研究灾难的教授。他告诉美联社，由于该地区近年来经历过地震，人们对这次事件的准备更充分。“除了日本人，可能没有人对灾难如此有准备，”加多田说。

　　政府官员表示，该地区的几个核心设施正常运行。2011年的地震和海啸导致福岛核电站的三个反应堆熔毁，并释放出大量辐射。

　　我是Bryan Lynn。

　　美联社和路透社报道了这个故事。Bryan Lynn为VOA学英语改编了这些报道。

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　　故事中的词汇

　　prefecture - n. 一些国家（如日本和法国）为了地方政府而划分的区域之一

　　tsunami - n. 一系列大海浪

　　furniture - n. 放置在房间或建筑物中的物品，如椅子、桌子和床等