Quake, Tsunami May Only Add to Economic Struggles for Japan

Quake, Tsunami 1 May Only Add to Economic Struggles for Japan日本发生强烈地震，经济前景雪上蒙霜

This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.

这里是美国之音慢速英语新闻报道节目。

The earthquake that shook Japan with historic strength on Friday created a tsunami wave ten meters high. The water washed away boats, cars and houses in coastal 2 areas north of Tokyo. It also led to tsunami warnings across the Pacific.

周五,日本发生了历史性的强烈地震并引发十米高的海啸。海啸卷走了东京以北沿海地区的船只、汽车和房屋，还引发了环太平洋地区海啸警报。

Scientists recorded the magnitude of the earthquake at 8.9. The United States Geological Survey says it was the fifth largest earthquake since nineteen hundred. The largest, with a 9.5 magnitude, shook Chile in nineteen sixty.

科学家记录此次地震震级为8.9级。美国地质调查局表示，这是1900年以来的第5大地震。最大的一次地震1960年发生在智利，震级为9.5级。

The quake struck near the east coast of Honshu, Japan's main island. It was centered under the sea about one hundred thirty kilometers east of Sendai. The tsunami washed away whole neighborhoods in Sendai.

此次地震震中靠近日本主岛本州岛东海岸，位于仙台以东130公里的海底。海啸冲毁了仙台附近地区。

President Obama offered whatever assistance Japan needs. He had already planned to meet with reporters Friday, and began by talking about the disaster.

奥巴马总统表示将提供任何日本需要援助。他之前已经安排周五与记者见面，这次会面便从讨论这次灾难开场。

BARACK OBAMA: "First and foremost, our thoughts and our prayers are with the people of Japan. This is a potentially catastrophic disaster and the images of destruction and flooding coming out of Japan are simply heartbreaking.

奥巴马：“首先，我们的心与日本人民在一起。这是一次潜在的巨大灾难，来自日本的灾害和洪水画面实在让人心痛。”

"Japan is, of course, one of our strongest and closest allies and this morning I spoke 3 with Prime Minister [Naoto] Kan. On behalf of the American people, I conveyed our deepest condolences, especially to the victims and their families. And I offered our Japanese friends whatever assistance is needed. We currently have an aircraft carrier in Japan and another is on its way."

“日本是美国最牢靠、最亲密的盟友。今天上午我和日本首相菅直人通话，我代表美国人民，向日本人民，特别是对受害者及其家属，表示最深切的慰问。同时美国将提供任何日本需要的援助。我们已经有一艘航空母舰在日本（准备协助救援），另一艘也正在驶往日本的途中。”

Japanese media said the tsunami carried away a ship carrying one hundred people. Television images showed a whole community on fire.

日本媒体称，海啸卷走了一艘载有上百人的船只。电视画面显示，许多居民区起火。

The quake has produced powerful aftershocks. It also raised concerns about possible effects on the world's third-largest economy. The economy was the second largest until China recently moved into that position.

这次地震还产生了巨大的余震，也引发了人们对日本这个第3大经济体在这次地震中可能遭受的影响的关注。日本此前是世界第2大经济体，直到最近被中国取代。

Japan was already struggling to rebuild economic growth and reduce its budget deficit 4 and government debt.

日本正在努力恢复经济增长，减少预算赤字和政府债务。

Japan has invested a lot of resources in preparing for earthquakes. Still, the nineteen ninety-five earthquake in Kobe caused an estimated one hundred billion dollars in damage.

在预防地震方面日本投资了大量资源。然而，1995年神户大地震造成的损失估计有1000亿美元。

The value of the yen 5 dropped Friday but then recovered.

周五日元汇率下挫但随后又回升。

Japan is the world's third-largest importer of oil. World prices for oil fell after the quake. This followed weeks of increases because of unrest in the Middle East and North Africa. Oil traders said prices fell because of a belief that quake damage will hurt growth in Japan and reduce demand for energy.

日本是世界第三大石油进口国。地震后世界石油价格下跌，这是在中东和北非动乱引发的石油价格持续一周上涨之后。石油交易商表示，石油价格下跌是由于人们认为，地震造成的破坏将损害日本经济增长，降低日本对能源的需求。

The quake happened about three hundred seventy kilometers northeast of Tokyo. It shook buildings in the capital, halting all train and subway traffic and leaving many people unable to get home.

地震发生在东京东北部370公里外，造成东京建筑物摇晃，铁路和地铁交通中断，许多人无法回家。

Joruji Shinozaki wrote on the VOA Learning English page on Facebook: Friday's earthquake was a nightmare. Suddenly the building where I live in Tokyo shook violently and objects began to fall. I was so scared because I've never experienced such a strong quake before in my life.

Joruji Shinozaki在美国之音Facebook上的页面上写道：“周五的地震是一场噩梦。我居住的位于东京的大楼突然剧烈摇晃，屋里的东西开始掉落。我好害怕，有生之年我从未经历过这么强烈的地震。”

Another Facebook user in Japan, Mitsutoshi Sato, wrote: It was a frightening experience. The blackout lasted for more than 10 hours around me. Thank each and every one of you in the world praying for Japan.

另一位Facebook的日本用户Mitsutoshi Sato写道：“这是一次可怕的经历。我周围停电持续了10多个小时。谢谢世界上每一个为日本祈祷的朋友。”