地震和海啸使日本经济雪上加霜Time:2011-03-12 1Quake, Tsunami May Only Add to Economic Struggles for JapanThis is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.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 areas north of Tokyo. It also led to tsunami warnings across the Pacific.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.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.President Obama offered whatever assistance Japan needs. He had already planned to meet with reporters Friday, and began by talking about the disaster.A warehouse and vehicles are washed away in Kesennuma .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.我们要表达对日本民主的牵挂和祈祷。
这可能是一次悲剧性的灾难，日本遭遇的破坏和洪水的景象非常令人心痛。
"Japan is, of course, one of our strongest and closest allies and this morning I spoke 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."日本是我们最有力，最亲密的盟国之一。
今天早上我已经和菅直人通话。
我代表美国人民向日本地震受害者和家属表达了我们深切的慰问。
我已经承诺为日本友人提供他们需要的一切援助。
现在我们已经有一艘航空母舰到达日本，另外一艘也已经在途中。
Japanese media said the tsunami carried away a ship carrying one hundred people. Television images showed a whole community on fire.The quake has produced powerful aftershocks. It also raised concerns about possible effects on the world'sthird-largest economy. The economy was the second largest until China recently moved into that position.Japan was already struggling to rebuild economic growth and reduce its budget deficit and government debt.Japan has invested a lot of resources in preparing for earthquakes. Still, the nineteen ninety-five earthquake in Kobe(神户)caused an estimated one hundred billion dollars in damage.The value of the yen(日元)dropped Friday but then recovered.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.APT rain passengers wait at Tokyo's Shinagawa station after service was halted(停止，停顿).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.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.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.And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English. I'm Steve Ember.这里是VOA特别英语时事新闻。
周五，历史罕见的强震袭击了日本，并引发海啸，海浪高达十米。
海啸卷走了东京以北海岸地区的船只，汽车和房屋，还导致太平洋地区的海啸预警。
科学家测定这次地震的强度为8.9级。
美国地质调查局(U.S. Geological Survey)表示，这是自1900年以来的第五大地震。
最大的地震为9.5级，于1960年袭击智利。
地震袭击了日本本州岛东部海岸附近，震中位于仙台东部130千米处的海底。
海啸卷走了仙台的整个社区。
奥巴马总统承诺提供日本需要的一切援助。
他已经计划在周五会见记者，对这次灾难进行讨论。
奥巴马：“首先，我们要表达对日本民主的牵挂和祈祷。
这可能是一次悲剧性的灾难，日本遭遇的破坏和洪水的景象非常令人心痛。
”“当然，日本是我们最有力，最亲密的盟国之一。
今天早上我已经和菅直人通话。
我代表美国人民向日本地震受害者和家属表达了我们深切的慰问。
我已经承诺为日本友人提供他们需要的一切援助。
现在我们已经有一艘航空母舰到达日本，另外一艘也已经在途中。
”日本媒体表示，海啸卷走了一艘载有100名乘客的船只。
电视画面显示有一个社区完全葬身火海。
这次地震引发了强大的影响。
还引发了对世界上第三大经济体的经济产生的影响的担忧。
日本一直是世界第二大经济体，直到最近被中国超越。
日本正在苦苦挣扎着刺激经济发展，减少财政赤字和政府债务。
日本在应对地震方面投入了许多资源。
然而，1995年神户发生的地震造成了大约1000亿美元的损失。
周五，日元的汇率出现短暂下降，但是很快恢复。
日本是世界上第三大石油进口国。
地震过后，世界石油价格下降。
之前，由于中东和北非地区的动荡，石油价格连续几周上涨。
石油贸易商表示，石油价格下降是由于人们相信，地震造成的破坏会危害日本的经济增长，降低对能源的需求。
地震发生在东京东北部370千米处。
地震造成首都的房屋摇晃，火车和地铁停止运营，许多人不能回家。