A series of powerful earthquakes in western Japan have left at least 55 people dead and damaged thousands of buildings, automobiles and boats.
日本西部发生的一系列强烈地震已造成至少55人死亡，数千栋建筑、汽车和船只受损。
The first quake struck New Year's Day, registering 7.6 in magnitude, or strength. The shaking caused major damage across Ishikawa prefecture.
第一次地震发生在元旦，震级为7.6级。地震对整个石川县造成了严重破坏。
Japanese media reports said the quake destroyed tens of thousands of homes and cut water, power and phone services in some areas.
日本媒体报道称，地震摧毁了数以万计的房屋，并切断了一些地区的水、电和电话服务。
The mayor in the town of Suzu, near the quake's center, said up to 90 percent of homes may have been destroyed, Reuters news agency reported.
据路透社报道，震中附近的宿州市市长表示，多达90%的房屋可能已被摧毁。
The earthquake set off tsunami warnings along Japan's western coast. Officials ordered about 100,000 people to leave their homes Monday night. They were sent to schools and sports centers to take shelter. Many returned to their homes Tuesday after the warnings were lifted.
地震在日本西海岸引发海啸警报。周一晚上，官方下令约10万人离开家园。他们被送到学校和体育中心避难。警报解除后，许多人于周二返回家园。
Japan's Meteorological Agency said about 200 aftershocks had struck since the main quake and that more were expected in coming days.
日本气象厅表示，自主震以来，已经发生了大约200次余震，预计未来几天还会有更多余震。
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters the government had deployed teams that included military troops, police and local rescuers. "We have received reports that there are still many people waiting to be rescued under collapsed buildings," he said.
日本首相岸田文雄告诉记者，政府已经部署了包括军队、警察和当地救援人员在内的队伍。他说：“我们收到报告称，仍有许多人困在倒塌的建筑物下等待救援。”
Kishida added that saving lives is the top goal.
岸田文雄补充说，拯救生命是首要目标。
Japan sits on the so-called Ring of Fire, a collection of volcanoes and fault lines found around the Pacific Basin. About 20 percent of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater happen in that area.
日本位于所谓的环太平洋火山带上，这是太平洋盆地周围发现的火山和断层带的集合。世界上大约20%的6级及以上地震发生在该地区。
Monday's earthquake was Japan's deadliest since 2016. Emergency teams battled fires in several cities, as rescuers searched for people trapped in wreckage.
周一的地震是日本自2016年以来死亡人数最多的一次地震。紧急救援队在几个城市灭火，救援人员正在搜寻被困在废墟中的人员。
Shoichi Kobayashi lives in the city of Wajima. He told Reuters he was at home celebrating New Year's with his wife and son when the quake hit and sent furniture flying across the house. "I've never experienced a quake that powerful," Kobayashi said.
小林昭一住在和岛市。他告诉路透社，地震发生时，他正在家里与妻儿庆祝新年，家具在房子里乱飞。小林说：“我从未经历过如此强烈的地震。”
In the city of Nanao, Fujiko Ueno said she was celebrating with about 20 people in her home when the earthquake struck. The quake caused walls to collapse onto a parked car. Ueno said no one in the group was injured. "It all happened in the blink of an eye," she said.
南尾市的上野藤子说，地震发生时，她正在家中与大约20人一起庆祝。地震导致围墙砸到一辆停着的汽车上。上野说，团队中没有人受伤。她说：“这一切都发生在眨眼之间。”
Toshitaka Katada is a University of Tokyo professor who specializes in disasters. He told The Associated Press that people were better prepared for this event because the area had been hit by quakes in recent years. "There is probably no people on earth other than Japanese who are so disaster-ready," Katada said.
片田敏孝是东京大学专门研究灾害的教授。他告诉美联社，人们对这一事件有了更好的准备，因为该地区近年来遭受过地震袭击。片田说：“除了日本人，地球上可能没有其他人做好了这种灾难准备。”
Government officials said several nuclear centers in the area were operating normally. A 2011 earthquake and tsunami caused three reactors to melt down and release large amounts of radiation at the Fukushima nuclear power center in northeastern Japan.
政府官员表示，该地区的几个核电站运行正常。2011年的地震和海啸导致日本东北部福岛核电站的三个反应堆熔毁并释放出大量辐射。
I'm Bryan Lynn.
我是布莱恩·林恩。(51VOA.COM原创翻译，请勿转载，违者必究！)