Strong Earthquake Shakes Kanto Region in Japan
An earthquake struck the Kanto region of Japan in the early hours of the morning, surprising many residents.
The affected areas included Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, and Chiba prefectures.
The quake registered a lower 5 on Japan's seismic intensity scale, which measures how strongly the ground shakes in a specific location.
Because the earthquake happened before dawn, many people were asleep and woke up suddenly, feeling shocked.
According to reports, 37 people were injured. One of them suffered a serious injury.
The earthquake also caused disruptions to daily life. Some areas experienced water outages, meaning residents temporarily had no running water.
There were also effects on transportation, including delays or stoppages for trains and other services.
An expert explained that the earthquake originated from a specific underground area beneath Kanto.
This area is sometimes called an 'earthquake nest' because it is known for frequently generating seismic activity.
The expert urged residents to review their disaster preparedness, which includes having emergency supplies and a plan in case of future earthquakes.
Japan is located in a highly seismic zone and experiences earthquakes regularly.
As a result, the government and communities put strong emphasis on being ready for sudden natural disasters.
This latest earthquake serves as a reminder for residents to stay alert and prepared, even during ordinary times.
Vocabulary6 words
- earthquake
- a sudden shaking of the ground
- intensity
- a measure of how strong something is felt
- transportation
- systems that move people or goods, like trains or buses
- expert
- someone with special knowledge in a subject
- seismic activity
- movements or shaking caused by earthquakes
- disaster preparedness
- getting ready in advance for emergencies
Quiz
Answer key
1. Early in the morning 2. Water outages and transport disruptions 3. Because it frequently produces earthquakes
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
An _____ struck the Kanto region of Japan in the early hours of the morning, surprising many residents.
The affected areas included Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, and Chiba prefectures.
The quake registered a lower 5 on Japan's seismic _____ scale.
According to reports, 37 people were injured. One of them suffered a serious injury.
The earthquake also caused disruptions to daily life, including water outages.
There were also effects on _____, including delays for trains and other services.
An _____ explained that the earthquake originated from a specific underground area beneath Kanto.
This area is sometimes called an 'earthquake nest' because of frequent _____.
The expert urged residents to review their _____.
Japan is located in a highly seismic zone and experiences earthquakes regularly.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think early-morning earthquakes surprise people more than daytime ones?
- How important do you think it is for cities to prepare for earthquakes in advance?
- What kinds of disruptions, like water or transport problems, can earthquakes cause?
- Do you think living in an area with frequent earthquakes changes how people plan their daily lives?