강진으로 일본 도시 파괴, 13명 사망

Did you know that earthquakes can destroy a city in just seconds? This is what happened in Japan recently. A very strong earthquake hit the ground. Buildings fell down. Roads broke. Many people got hurt. At least 13 people died.

The earthquake was very powerful. It moved the ground fast and hard. People felt the shaking in their homes and offices. They were scared. They ran outside to stay safe. Some buildings fell down completely. Other buildings had big cracks in the walls. Bridges and roads were damaged too. Trains could not run on the tracks.

Thousands of people had to leave their homes. They did not know if their houses were still safe. The government opened special shelters for these people. A shelter is a safe place where people can sleep and eat. Families stayed together in these shelters. They waited for news about their homes.

Rescue workers came to help. They looked for people who were trapped under broken buildings. Dogs helped the workers find people. The workers dug through the broken rocks and wood. They worked day and night. They did not stop. They wanted to save every person they could find.

Earthquakes are natural disasters. We cannot stop them. But we can be ready. Japanese people know this. They practice what to do. They have safe shelters. They have rescue teams ready to help fast. This helps save lives.

What would you do if an earthquake happened near your home? Do you have a safe place to go?

Inspired by reporting from BBC News.