VOA双语新闻 Powerful Earthquake Strikes Southern Japan（在线收听）

A powerful earthquake, followed by numerous aftershocks, shook southern Japan Sunday morning. Hundreds of people were injured.

日本南部星期天早上发生强烈地震，随后又发生多次余震，导致数百人受伤。

The magnitude 7 quake was felt as far away as South Korea. In southern Japan, it damaged homes, shattered windows in high-rise office buildings and toppled walls and stone statues.

这次强度为里氏七级的地震，远至韩国都有震感。在日本南部，地震毁坏了房屋，震破高层写字楼的窗户，震倒一些墙壁和石头雕像。

At a kindergarten, a recital by students was getting underway when the quake struck. The tremor swayed the room, and mothers ran to calm their panicked children.

地震发生时，一个幼儿园的孩子们正在演出节目。强烈地震摇得房间直晃，孩子的母亲们赶紧跑过去安抚受到惊吓的孩子。

Officials say electrical power, gas and water services have been disrupted in many cities on Japan's main southern island of Kyushu.

官员们说，在日本南部的主要岛屿九州岛，很多城市的电力、煤气和自来水的供应受到影响。

Japan's Meteorological Agency says the quake was centered in the Sea of Japan, about 70 kilometers off the coast of Kyushu. Seismologists at the agency say this is the strongest quake to hit Kyushu in nearly 18 years.

日本气象局表示，这次地震的震中在日本海，在九州岛海岸外大约70公里。气象学专家说，这是近18年来九州岛发生的最强烈地震。

Officials say the quake is remarkable in that it was extremely shallow, just nine kilometers below the sea surface.

官员们说，这次地震的震感相当强烈，因为地震发生在地表层很浅的地方，仅在海平面以下9公里。

In Fukuoka City, where 1.3 million people reside, roads and sidewalks cracked or swelled. Passenger rail service in many communities was suspended. Airports in Fukuoka and Nagasaki halted flights for a short period, but reopened after inspections revealed no damage to runways.

在有130万人口的福冈市，公路和人行道被震得断裂和突起。很多线路的客运火车停运。福冈和长崎机场一度停飞，不过在经过检查并没有发现跑道损坏后，机场重新开放。

However, damage is extensive on the tiny island of Genkai at the mouth of Fukuoka Bay. Local government officials requested military helicopters be dispatched to the island to take the injured to hospitals.

但是，位于福冈湾入口处的小岛玄海町受到的破坏相当严重。当地官员要求派遣军用直升机，把受伤的人送到医院。

Both the prime minister's office and the National Police Agency have established crisis centers to gather information and coordinate relief efforts.

日本首相府和警察厅成立了紧急中心，搜集有关情况，协调救灾努力。

Japan Meteorological Agency official Masahiro Yamamoto is warning of powerful aftershocks. Mr. Yamamoto says tremors of magnitude 6 are possible. There is concern that further aftershocks could also trigger landslides.

日本气象厅地震海啸监视科长山本雅博警告说，接下来可能还会发生强烈余震。山本雅博说，还可能会发生六级地震，而且他们担心再发生余震的话，可能会导致滑坡。

Authorities are advising people in southern Japan to stay away from the seacoast. The meteorological agency initially issued a tsunami warning, but it was canceled about an hour after the first tremor.

日本当局提醒南部的居民要远离海岸线。日本气象厅最初曾发布海啸警报，不过在第一次地震发生大约一个小时后取消了海啸警报。