Experts in Japan have warned that the chances of a powerful earthquake
striking Tokyo in the next four years could be as high as 70%. The earthquake
research institute at Tokyo University said that in the worst case, a quake
of magnitude
7 would hit the southern part of metropolitan Tokyo by 2016, while the
chances of a similar disaster occurring within 30 years are as high as 98%.
Using data from Japan's meteorological agency, the institute
said earthquakes of up to magnitude 6 had occurred five times more frequently
than in normal years since the March disaster. The increased frequency has
made it more likely that "the big one" could strike far sooner. The
government said the researchers had reached their more worrying conclusion
because they had used a different computer model to calculate the risks.
Shinichi Sakai, an associate professor at the
earthquake research institute, said that chances of a magnitude-7 earthquake
striking Tokyo had increased since 11 March. "The government,
individuals and corporations should make preparations for that now," he
said. Although newer buildings in Tokyo are built to withstand powerful
earthquakes, a large quake in the city has the potential to cause
widespread damage. According to the government, a magnitude-7.3 earthquake
would kill about 5,600 people, injure 159,000 and destroy 850,000 buildings.
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VOCABULARY
1.
Experts (n) - someone who has a special skill or special
knowledge of a subject, gained as a result of training or experience. EXAMPLE: an expert at planning dinner parties.
2.
Magnitude
(n) - the force or intensity of an
earthquake
3.
Agency (n) - an organization or department,
especially within a government, that does a specific job.
4.
Strike (v) - to arrive with detrimental effect
5.
Associate (adj.)
- having a rank or position that is
below the highest level in a group, organization, etc. EXAMPLE: He's
an associate member of the club but he hopes to become a full
member soon
6.
Withstand
(v) - to be strong enough to remain
unharmed by something such as great heat, cold, pressure. EXAMPLE: This
fabric can withstand steam and high temperatures.
7.
Potential
(n) - the possibility that something will
develop in a particular way, or have a particular effect
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1.
Do you think this
research is true? How reliable?
2.
Would you
consider leaving Tokyo?
3.
Discuss about
preparations for calamities like earthquake.
4.
How strong are
buildings in your country?
5.
Share any
experience you had on natural calamities.
