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A series of powerful earthquakes in western Japan have left at least 55 people dead and damaged thousands of buildings, automobiles, and boats.
在日本西部发生的一系列强烈地震已造成至少55人死亡，并损坏了数千栋建筑物、汽车和船只。
The first quake struck New Year’s Day, registering 7.6 in magnitude, or strength. The shaking caused major damage across Ishikawa prefecture.
第一次地震发生在元旦，震级达到7.6级。这场地震在石川县造成了重大破坏。
Japanese media reports said the quake destroyed tens of thousands of homes and cut water, power, and phone services in some areas.
据日本媒体报道，这场地震摧毁了数以万计的住宅，并在一些地区切断了水、电和电话服务。
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.
路透社报道称，震中附近的珠洲市市长表示，多达90%的住宅可能已经被摧毁。
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.
地震引发了日本西海岸的海啸警报。官员们命令大约10万人在周一晚上离开家园。他们被送往学校和体育中心避难。在解除警报后，许多人于周二返回家园。
Japan’s Meteorological Agency said about 200 aftershocks had struck since the main quake and that more were expected in coming days.
日本气象厅表示，自主震发生以来已有约200次余震，并预计未来几天将有更多。
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.
日本首相岸田文雄告诉记者，政府已部署了包括军队、警察和地方救援队在内的团队。“我们已经收到报告称，在倒塌的建筑物下仍有许多人等待救援，”他说。
Kishida added that saving lives is the top goal.
岸田补充说，拯救生命是首要目标。
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.
日本位于所谓的“火环”上，这是在太平洋盆地周围发现的一系列火山和断层线。全球约20%的6级或以上地震发生在该地区。
Monday’s earthquake was Japan's deadliest since 2016. Emergency teams battled fires in several cities, as rescuers searched for people trapped in wreckage.
周一的地震是日本自2016年以来最致命的一次。紧急救援队在几个城市扑灭大火，救援人员搜索被困在废墟中的人。
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.
小林翔一住在輪島市。他告诉路透社，当地震发生时，他正在家里和妻儿一起庆祝新年，家具被震飞。小林说：“我从未经历过如此强烈的地震。”
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.
在七尾市，上野藤子说，地震发生时她正在家里和大约20人一起庆祝。地震导致墙壁倒塌到一辆停放的汽车上。上野说，团队中没有人受伤。“一切发生得眨眼间，”她说。
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.
堀田季孝是东京大学的一位专门研究灾害的教授。他告诉美联社，人们对这次事件做好了更充分的准备，因为该地区近年来多次发生地震。“可能除了日本人之外，地球上没有其他人是如此准备好应对灾害的，”堀田说。
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.
政府官员表示，该地区的几个核中心正常运行。2011年的一次地震和海啸导致日本东北部福岛核电中心的三个反应堆熔毁并释放大量辐射。
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Words in This Story
prefecture – n. any one of the areas into which some countries (such as Japan and France) are divided for local government
tsunami – n. a series of large ocean waves
furniture – n. objects such as chairs, tables and beds that are placed into rooms or buildings
