The earthquake that struck near Mexico City Tuesday came exactly 32 years after an 8.0 magnitude quake hit the area.
32年前，墨西哥城附近地区发生了8.0级地震，周二该地区再遭重创。
The 1985 earthquake killed nearly 10,000 people.
1985年的那场地震造成近1万人死亡。
Mexican officials say more than 200 people are confirmed dead following Tuesday’s quake.
墨西哥官员表示，周二的地震发生后，经确认有200多人死亡。
Many buildings were damaged, while others were destroyed.
多处建筑受损，有的建筑坍塌。
Rescue workers searched the capital and other areas on Wednesday in hopes of finding survivors.
周三，援救人员在墨西哥城和其他地区展开搜寻，希望能发现幸存者。
Mexican Interior Minister Miguel Osorio Chong says his country’s armed forces and police will continue working until they explore all possibilities of finding more people alive.
墨西哥内政部长米格尔·奥索里奥·钟表示，墨西哥的武装力量和警方将继续搜寻，不放过任何一个可能出现幸存者的区域。
Civilians joined the search and rescue teams shortly after the quake.
地震发生后不久，民众也纷纷加入搜寻的工作中。
They used heavy machinery and, in some cases their hands, to clear away wreckage from homes, schools and other buildings.
他们动用了重型机械，甚至徒手清理民居、学校和其他建筑的废墟。
Scientists say the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.1.
科学家指出，这次地震震级达7.1级。
The United States Geological Survey defines magnitude as a number that represents the relative size of a quake.
美国地质调查局将震级定义为：能代表地震相对规模的数字。
The quake’s epicenter was near the city of Puebla, 120 kilometers southeast of Mexico City.
地震的震源位于距墨西哥东南约120公里的普埃布拉市附近。
Ken Hudnut is a science adviser with the U.S. Geological Survey in Pasadena, California.
肯恩·哈德纳特（Ken Hudnut）是美国加州帕萨迪纳市地质调查局的科学顾问。
He told VOA that the land on which the buildings were set up could be a reason for the collapses.
他对VOA表示，这些建筑下的地面可能是其坍塌的原因。
“Some of the buildings are on old lake beds, and that can amplify the shaking and cause the shaking to last longer, and that can make for more damage.”
“其中一些建筑的位置之前是湖床，这会加剧震感，导致震动时间更久，也会造成更大的损害。”
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump sent a message of support on Twitter.
周二，美国总统特朗普在推特上发声支援。
He wrote, “God bless the people of Mexico City. We are with you and will be there for you.”
他写道，“愿上帝保佑墨西哥人民。我们与你们同在，始终支持你们。”
On Wednesday, Israel announced plans to send 70 people to Mexico to help with rescue efforts.
周三，以色列宣布向墨西哥派70人员协助援救工作。
A military spokesman said the team will help examine buildings to identify their damage and safety levels.
军方发言人表示，这支援救小组将协助监测楼房，确定其受损程度和安全程度。
The earthquake hit less than two weeks after another quake killed more than 90 people in southern Mexico.
该地震发生约两周前，墨西哥南部发生的一场地震导致90多人死亡。
The U.S. Geological Survey said the two quakes appeared to be unrelated.
美国地质调查局表示，这两场地震似乎并无关联。
The Earth’s outermost surface is made up of large tectonic plates.
地球最外层由大型的地壳板块构成。
As many as 20 tectonic plates cover the planet.
地表覆盖有至少20个地壳板块。
They move slowly, sometimes sliding under one another.
它们移动缓慢，有时候板块会沉降到其他板块下方。
When that happens, earthquakes can take place.
这种情况出现时会发生地震。
Ken Hudnut says the two recent quakes in Mexico have similarities.
哈德纳特表示，墨西哥近期发生的两次地震有相似之处。
“So both of them occurred within the plate that’s going down underneath the plate that is overriding up on top.
“两次地震都是因向下运动的地壳板块与向上运动的地壳板块发生撞击而形成。
And both of them had some extensional movement, which is unusual.
另外，两次地震都出现拉张运动的迹象，这一现象很不寻常。
The more typical thing is like the 1985 earthquake that did much more damage in Mexico City than either of these…”
更典型的案例是1985年的那场地震，其对墨西哥造成的损害更大”
I’m Ashley Thompson.
阿什利·汤普森为您播报。
【词汇解析】
1.Rescue workers 救援人员
Rescue workers are digging through the rubble in search of other victims.
救援人员正在废墟中挖掘，以搜寻其他受害者。
2.going down 停止；下沉
Small local stores are going down the drain.
当地的小店都倒闭了。
3.made up of 由...组成
Food is made up of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
食物由碳水化合物、蛋白质和脂肪构成。
4.lake bed 湖床
The heart of the city is built on landfill over an ancient lake bed.
城市的心脏是建立在填埋了的古代湖床上。
免责声明：以上内容源自网络，版权归原作者所有，如有侵犯您的原创版权请告知，我们将尽快删除相关内容。
