VOA标准英语2008年-Earthquake Kills 6, Injures Scores in Japan

By Kurt Achin
Seoul
14 June 2008

A powerful earthquake in northern Japan has killed at least six people and injured more than 100. Power has been cut to many homes and businesses, but for now, officials say two major nuclear power facilities appear to have avoided damage. VOA's Kurt Achin is monitoring news of the earthquake from Seoul.
　

Rescue workers holding stretchers to carry injured and elderly persons walk towards villages isolated1 by a landslide2 after earthquake

At least one Japanese reporter broadcast live images of the earthquake as it struck Saturday morning.

As he points out shaking buildings, the journalist says the time is 8:44 in the morning. He says he can hear shutters³ rattling⁴, and feels a strong shaking.

Scientists say the 7.2 magnitude quake took place underground in Japan's Iwate prefecture, about 400 kilometers north of Tokyo.

Military aircraft are assessing the damage, as residents prepare for possible aftershocks, which could potentially raise the number of casualties.

Senior Japanese officials say they are wasting no time in their response.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura says the damage reports are gradually getting bigger with time. He says overnment agencies and police in the field are in close communication to gather information as quickly as possible.

The quake has reportedly cut the power supply to nearly 30,000 Japanese homes and businesses. However, officials say nuclear power plants near the quake zone are in working order and pose no danger.

Japan has temporarily suspended certain train routes that approach the quake zone.

Geologists⁵ say Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. Its last major quake 13 years ago in Kobe killed more than 6,000 people.

1 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

2 landslide   

n.(竞选中)压倒多数的选票；一面倒的胜利

参考例句：

• Our candidate is predicated to win by a landslide.我们的候选人被预言将以绝对优势取胜。
• An electoral landslide put the Labour Party into power in 1945.1945年工党以压倒多数的胜利当选执政。

3 shutters   

百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门

参考例句：

• The shop-front is fitted with rolling shutters. 那商店的店门装有卷门。
• The shutters thumped the wall in the wind. 在风中百叶窗砰砰地碰在墙上。

4 rattling   

adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词

参考例句：

• This book is a rattling good read. 这是一本非常好的读物。
• At that same instant,a deafening explosion set the windows rattling. 正在这时，一声震耳欲聋的爆炸突然袭来，把窗玻璃震得当当地响。

5 geologists   

地质学家，地质学者( geologist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Geologists uncovered the hidden riches. 地质学家发现了地下的宝藏。
• Geologists study the structure of the rocks. 地质学家研究岩石结构。