英语新闻：Earthquake Hits Chile智利发生地震

Dean

A powerful earthquake rattled（摇晃）northern Chile yesterday. At least two people were killed and more than 100 were injured.

The quake started about 37 miles underground, geologists（地质学家）said. Tremors（地震） were felt 780 miles away in Santiago（圣地亚哥）, the capital, as well as in neighboring Peru（秘鲁） and Bolivia（玻利维亚）.

\"It was horribly strong,\" one person said. \"It was very long, and there was a lot of underground noise.\"

伊人独酌

Terrible, I am afriad of earthquake, and I am very lucky that I have never suffered this until now

Dean

Disasters happen every year. Have you heard of the big earthquake in Tangshan, a city not far from Baodi? It was one of the biggest earthquakes in the world. Thousands of people died during the horrible tremor and i epxerienced that unforgettable moment. I was just a little boy when it broke out early morning on July 28, 1976. People were so afraid that they thought the world would come to an end. They dared not go into the houses to live in. They had to put up simple shabby tents outside to go through that terrible period of the time.

伊人独酌

I think the most terrible things is that when people are sleeping, the earthquare is happening, and people is just be imbeded in the ruin.

Dean

Most of the disasters like earthquakes or storms happen at night during sleeping hours. That make it even worse to the rescue work. When disasters happen the electricity and water are cut off and roads are twisted, blocking the transportation.

伊人独酌

So if people don't know the earthquake is coming, people will do nothing to rescue?

Dean

People try to learn how to predict disasters. If warning were given the tsunami(海啸) in Sumatra would not have killed so many people in 2004.

伊人独酌

Yes, but in some remote and small villages, there will be no prediction, so what can they do?
They just wait their fortune?

Dean

I have great mercy on those poor people in the remote villages and regions. The government should take some measures to help them our of poverty and improve their life. Only all the people whether in rural or urban areas get rich can we say it is a well-off society(小康社会).

伊人独酌

It will need quite long time realize well-off standard living for everybody