VOA慢速英语2014 Two Powerful Earthquakes Strike Chile 两次强力地震袭击了智利（在线收听）

Two Powerful Earthquakes Strike Chile 两次强力地震袭击了智利

From VOA Learning English, this is In The News.  A powerful earthquake struck an area near the northern coast of Chile on Wednesday.  The earthquake came a day after an even stronger quake hit the area.  The earlier quake was blamed for at least six deaths.

来自美国之声慢速英语的新闻快报：周三一场强劲的地震袭击了智利北部海岸附近的地区。这次地震前一天，甚至一场更猛烈的地震袭击了这片地区。导致了6人死亡。

The United States Geological Survey says a 7.8 magnitude aftershock hit northern Chile late Wednesday night, local time.  Magnitude is a measurement of the energy released at the center, or source, of an earthquake.  U.S. officials said the aftershock was centered about 23 kilometers south of the port of Iquique.  They said it struck at a depth of 20 kilometers below sea level. 

据美国地质调查局报道称，当地时间周三深夜，一场7.8级的余震袭击智利北部。震级是指一场地震在中心地带或源头一次释放的能量的测量。美国官员说,余震的震中地距离伊基克港23公里。他们说这次袭击的深度在海平面20公里以下。

The aftershock led Chilean officials to order thousands of people away from coastal areas.  It also led to warnings of high tsunami waves in parts of the Pacific Ocean.  The orders and tsunami warnings were later canceled.

余震致使智利官员下令数以千计的人群离开沿海地区。它还导致高海啸波在太平洋地区的警告。不过命令和海啸警告后来被取消了。

The aftershock struck a day after an even more powerful earthquake hit northern Chile.  That quake was centered in an area about 100 kilometers northwest of Iquique.  The city is home to nearly 200,000 people.

余震袭击一天后甚至更强有力的地震袭击了智利北部。该地震震中在距伊基克市西北约 100 公里处。而这座城市是将近20万人的家园。

The quake was felt in Bolivia and Peru.  It also led to tsunami warnings as far as Japan.  The warnings were cancelled hours later.

在玻利维亚和秘鲁也有震感。它也导致了在日本的海啸警告。没过几小时警告便被取消了。

Chilean police and soldiers guarded coastal communities to prevent attacks on homes and businesses.  Television video showed damaged buildings in Iquique.  But officials found surprisingly light damage from the quake.

智利警察和士兵守卫着沿海的社区以防止家庭和企业受到攻击。电视视频显示损坏的建筑物在伊基克市。但官员惊奇的发现地震的损伤很小。

President Michelle Bachelet visited the affected area.  She spoke to the nation about the disaster.

总统米歇尔巴切莱特访问了受影响的地区。她谈到了这次的灾难。

She said appropriate measures have been taken to protect lives and property.  And she said the government will continue to work all the time that is necessary to deal with this emergency and protect our citizens.

她说已采取适当措施保护生命和财产。她还说，政府将继续不间断工作，全力投入到这些突发事件和保护公民中去。

Rafael Abreu is a scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Information Center.  He says the earthquake activity began with a magnitude 6.7 quake on March 16.  More than 100,000 people were told to leave low-lying areas, but returned later. 

拉斐尔 阿布雷乌是与美国地质调查地震资料中心的科学家。他说： 地震活动始于 3 月 16 日 6.7 级地震。10 万多人被告知离开低洼地区， 但后来又返回了。

Earthquakes are somewhat common in Chile.  They are also a fact of life in the American state of California.  Scientists say a quake of magnitude eight or higher could strike along the San Andreas Fault in coming years.  The San Andreas Fault extends from north to south through California.  Thousands died in its last major rupture, or movement.  That took place near the city of San Francisco in 1906.

地震在智利是比较常见的，他们也是美国加利福尼亚州生活的一部分。科学家说，一场8级的或者更高等级的地震将沿着圣安德烈斯断层发生。圣安德烈斯断层从北到南贯通加利福尼亚延伸。数千人死在这个断层最近一次的运动中。这次地震于1906年发生在旧金山附近 。

Smaller earthquakes also can be deadly if they strike close to heavily populated areas.  Safety experts say every home needs to have a plan of action, supplies food and water, and emergency equipment. 

较小的地震在人口稠密地区也可能是致命的。安全专家说，每个家庭都需要有行动计划，食品和水的供应，还有应急设备。

Kate Hutton is a seismologist at the California Institute of Technology.  She specializes in the study of earthquakes.  Kate Hutton admits there is no way to predict earthquakes, so being prepared is the best defense. 

凯特赫顿是加利福尼亚州技术研究院的地震学家。她专攻于地震的研究。凯特赫顿承认没有任何方法来预测地震，所以做好准备是最好的防御。

We will have more about earthquakes next Tuesday on the weekly program Science in the News.  And that’s In The News from VOA Learning English.  I’m Mario Ritter.

我们下周二将会有更多关于地震的科技新闻。这消息是来自美国之音慢速英语的。我是马里奥里特。