The earthquake that shook Japan with historic strength on Friday created a tsunami wave ten meters high. 
日本周五发生了史上强度最大的地震，并引发浪高达10米的海啸。

The water washed away boats, cars and houses in coastal areas north of Tokyo. 
东京北部海滨地区的船只、汽车和房屋皆被大水冲走。

It also led to tsunami warnings across the Pacific.
太平洋各国也纷纷拉响海啸警报。

Scientists recorded the magnitude of the earthquake at 8.9. 
科学家将此次地震的震级定为8.9级。

The United States Geological Survey says it was the 5th largest earthquake since 1900. 
美国地质勘探局（USGS）称，这是20世纪以来的第5大地震，

The largest, with a 9.5 magnitude, shook Chile in 1960.
最大的地震于1960年发生在智利，震级达到9.5级。

The quake struck near the east coast of Honshu, Japan's main island. 
地震袭击了本州岛（日本主要岛屿）东海滨地区。

It was centered under the sea about 130 kilometers east of Sendai. 
震源中心位于仙台以东海底约130公里处。

The tsunami washed away whole neighborhoods in Sendai.
海啸将仙台周边的几个村镇完全冲毁。

President Obama offered whatever assistance Japan needs. 
他表示将向日本提供所需的一切援助。

He had already planned to meet with reporters Friday, and began by talking about the disaster.
在原定的周五记者招待会上，奥巴马总统以谈论这次地震开场。

First and foremost, our thoughts and our prayers are with the people of Japan. 
首先最重要的是，我们的心，我们的祈祷将与日本人民同在。

This is a potentially catastrophic disaster and the images of destruction and flooding coming out of Japan are simply heartbreaking.
这次地震灾害可能会很深重，日本遭受地震破坏和洪水肆虐的景象实在让人心碎。

Japan is, of course, one of our strongest and closest allies and this morning I spoke with Prime Minister [Naoto] Kan. 
日本，毫无疑问，是和我们关系最牢靠、最亲密的盟国。

On behalf of the American people, I conveyed our deepest condolences, especially to the victims and their families. 
今天上午，我和菅直人首相通了话，我代表美国人民，向日本人民尤其是对死难者及其家属传达了我们最深切的慰问。

And I offered our Japanese friends whatever assistance is needed. 
我承诺向日本朋友提供所需的一切援助。

We currently have an aircraft carrier in Japan and another is on its way.
我们现在已经有一艘航母在日本，另一艘也已经上路。

Japanese media said the tsunami carried away a ship carrying 100 people. 
日本媒体报道称，海啸卷走了一艘载有上百人的船只。

Television images showed a whole community on fire.
电视画面显示，有个社区完全陷入火海。

The quake has produced powerful aftershocks. 
地震还产生了强大的余震。

It also raised concerns about possible effects on the world's third-largest economy. 
人们开始担心，这次灾难会给这个世界第三大经济体带来何种影响。

The economy was the second largest until China recently moved into that position.
日本曾是世界第二大经济体，直到最近才被中国取代。

Japan was already struggling to rebuild economic growth and reduce its budget deficit and government debt.
日本之前就已经在挣扎着恢复经济增长、减少预算赤字以及政府债务。

Japan has invested a lot of resources in preparing for earthquakes. 
为了预防地震，日本投入了大量的资源。

Still, the 1995 earthquake in Kobe caused an estimated 100 billion dollars in damage.
然而，1995年的神户大地震造成约1000亿美元的经济损失。

The value of the yen dropped Friday but then recovered.
周五，日元开始走低，但随后又回升。

Japan is the world's third-largest importer of oil. 
日本是世界第三大石油进口国。

World prices for oil fell after the quake. 
日本发生地震后，世界石油价格应声下跌。

This followed weeks of increases because of unrest in the Middle East and North Africa. 
而在此之前，由于中东和北非局势动荡，油价持续数周上升。

Oil traders said prices fell because of a belief that quake damage will hurt growth in Japan and reduce demand for energy.
石油贸易公司称，价格下跌是因为人们认为地震将会损害日本经济，降低其能源需求。

The quake happened about 370 kilometers northeast of Tokyo. 
这次地震发生在东京东北部约370公里，

It shook buildings in the capital, halting all train and subway traffic and leaving many people unable to get home.
东京的房屋震感强烈，所有铁路和地铁均陷入瘫痪，导致许多民众无家可归。

Joruji Shinozaki wrote on the VOA Learning English page on Facebook: Friday's earthquake was a nightmare. 
Joruji Shinozaki在VOA英语学习Facebook主页上留言说：周五的地震是一场噩梦。

Suddenly the building where I live in Tokyo shook violently and objects began to fall. 
我在东京的住所突然剧烈震动，屋里的东西开始往下掉，

I was so scared because I've never experienced such a strong quake before in my life.
我感觉非常害怕，因为我这辈子从来没有经历过这么大的地震。

Another Facebook user in Japan, Mitsutoshi Sato, wrote: It was a frightening experience. 
Facebook的另一个日本用户Mitsutoshi Sato写道：这是一次可怕的经历。

The blackout lasted for more than 10 hours around me. 
我周围持续停电超过10个小时。

Thank each and every one of you in the world praying for Japan.
感谢这个世界上所有为日本祈祷的人。