Episode Details

An agency of Japan’s government recently gave its first-ever "megaquake advisory," or warning message.  

日本政府的一个机构最近首次发布了“超大型地震警告”或警告信息。

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued the warning after a powerful quake struck on August 8 off the southeastern coast of Japan’s main island of Kyushu.  

在日本气象厅发布这一警告之前，8月8日日本九州主岛东南海岸发生了一次强烈地震。

The magnitude 7.1 quake caused no deaths or severe damage, but the advisory has led to questions and a sense of worry. Japan is among the countries most hit by earthquakes. Now many citizens are wondering about when the next big quake will hit.  

这次7.1级地震没有造成人员死亡或重大损失，但这一警告引发了疑问和担忧。日本是世界上地震灾害最频繁的国家之一，许多市民开始担心下一次大地震何时会发生。

The Associated Press recently explained what the advisory means, what people are being told to do:  

美联社最近解释了这一警告的含义以及人们应该采取的措施：

JMA issued the advisory after deciding that the August 8 quake increased the likelihood of another major quake.  

日本气象厅在确定8月8日的地震增加了另一次大地震的可能性后发布了这一警告。

The agency said there is a 70 to 80 percent chance of a magnitude 8 or 9 quake associated with an area called the Nankai Trough within the next 30 years. The JMA said the probability of such an event is now "higher than normal."  

该机构表示，未来30年内，在一个名为南海海槽的区域发生8级或9级地震的概率为70%至80%。日本气象厅表示，这种事件发生的概率现在“高于正常水平”。

Naoshi Hirata is a seismologist at the University of Tokyo and head of the JMA's group of experts. He said that the warning was not a prediction that a megaquake will happen at any specific time or place. He urged people to remain careful and prepared.  

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