Unit 4 Earthquakes 1976 年 7 月 28 日，唐山市发生了强度里氏 7.8 级的地震，这是 20 世纪死伤率最大的地震之一。1976 Tangshan EarthquakeAt 3 ： 42 am, an earthquake measuring between 7.8 and 8.2 magnitude on the Richter scale flattened Tangshan, a Chinese industrial city with a population of about one million. As almost everyone was asleep in their beds, instead of outside in the relatively safe streets, the quake was especially costly in terms of human life. It’s estimated that about 242 ， 000 people in Tangshan and surrounding areas were killed, making the earthquake one of the deadliest in recorded history.In the days before the earthquake, wellwater levels rose and fell. Rats were seen running in panicked(恐慌的) packs in broad daylight. Chickens refused to eat. During the evening of July 27 and the early morning hours of July 28, people reported flashes of colored light and roaring(轰鸣的) fireballs.At 3：42 am, most people were sleeping quietly when the earthquake struck. It lasted for 14－16 seconds and leveled 90 percent of Tangshan’s buildings. At least a quarterofamillion people were killed and 160 ， 000 were injured. The earthquake came during the heat of midsummer, and many frightened survivors climbed out of their ruined houses naked, covered only in dust and blood. The earthquake started fires and lit explosive and poisonous gases in Tangshan’s factories. Water and electricity were cut off and rails and roads accessible to the city were destroyed.The Chinese government was illprepared for a disaster of this scale at that time. The day following the quake, helicopters and planes began dropping food and medicine into the city. About 100 ， 000 soldiers of the Chinese People’s Liberati...
