New Zealand's second-biggest city, Christchurch, is facing an enormous clean-up after being struck by the country's worst earthquake in 80 years. The magnitude 7 quake devastated parts of Christchurch early Saturday.
新西兰第二大城市克赖斯特彻奇在经历了一场大地震后正面临清理工作的巨大挑战。星期六凌晨发生的7.1级的地震是新西兰80年来第二大地震，给克赖斯特彻奇市的很多地方造成严重破坏。
Christchurch awoke Sunday to another grim day as shell-shocked residents assess the damage inflicted by one of the country's most powerful earthquakes.
大震后的克赖斯特彻奇满目疮痍。惊魂未定的居民们星期天开始面对这场罕见大地震所造成的破坏。
Mayor Bob Parker is urging residents to stay indoors.
市长派克敦促人们尽量不要外出。
This is not a good time to go out, as curious as you may be, and have a look around if it means driving out onto the streets because we need to keep them free for emergency services," Parker advised. "Use common sense; emergency services are flat out at the moment. The assessment is underway. Take sensible precautions, but don't go out sightseeing. Check on your neighbors. Do the things that communities do so well at times like this."
他说：“大家可能很想知道外面的情况，想开车出去看看，但是现在不是时候，因为我们要为救护车等应急服务车辆保持道路的畅通。”他呼吁人们保持头脑清醒，救护车、警车等应急车辆都已经大量出动，并表示灾情评估工作已经展开。这位市长在提醒人们不要出于好奇而外出的同时，也敦促大家邻里之间相互看看是否平安无事，在震后的艰难时刻充分发挥社区的作用。
Authorities say it is a miracle no one was killed after disaster struck Saturday before dawn, when most people were still asleep. A small number of serious injuries have been reported.
有关当局说，这次黎明前发生大地震中仅有一人丧生可谓是一个奇迹。当时大部分人仍在酣睡之中。此外，据报受重伤的人也不多。
Roads and bridges have been left in ruins and troops are expected to be deployed to help in the emergency effort. Power and water supplies have also been disrupted. Authorities say the clean-up will be long and expensive. The damage bill is estimated at about $1.5 billion.
但在另一方面，很多道路和桥梁被毁。预计政府将派军队协助救灾。水电供应也被迫中断。有关当局说，清理工作将在长期内花费大量资金。地震损失则估计高达十五亿美元。
A night time curfew was imposed in parts of Christchurch, while schools offered emergency shelter to those left homeless.
克赖斯特彻奇已在部分地区实行宵禁。学校收容了很多无家可归的人。
A series of aftershocks have unnerved a wary population.
此外，一阵阵余震也令该市人心惶惶。
New Zealand sits on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a vast area of unpredictable seismic activity. The South pacific country of more than 4 million people experiences more than 14,000 earthquakes each year. Most are minor but occasionally nature displays its destructive power.
新西兰地处所谓的“太平洋火环”断裂带，这是一个巨大的环太平洋地震带。新西兰有四百多万人口，每年发生一万四千多次地震，其中大部分震级微不足道，但偶尔也会有大震发生。
This weekend's earthquake is among the 10 strongest the country has ever recorded.
本周末的地震就是新西兰所经历的最大的地震之一。 |