10-16-06

夏威夷強烈地震後宣佈為災區 (Hawaii Declared Disaster Area Following Strong Earthquake)

美國位於太平洋的夏威夷州被宣佈為災區。星期天早上發生的強烈地震造成破壞但是沒有帶來嚴重人員傷亡。夏威夷州州長宣佈該地區為災區，這樣她就能夠動用該州的國民警衛隊並且有資格獲得聯邦緊急救援資金。

美國地質局說，星期天發生的6.6級地震的震中在太平洋，靠近夏威夷群島的最大島嶼夏威夷島人口稀少的西岸。

距震中250公里、人口最多的瓦胡島城市火努魯魯有震感。地震造成滑坡，並破壞了若干道路、橋梁和建築。機場取消了所有飛往外地的航班。大規模停電為全州的通訊造成了困難。

The U.S. Pacific state of Hawaii has been declared a disaster area after a strong earthquake early Sunday, causing damage but no serious injuries. The disaster declaration by Hawaii's governor allows her to mobilize the state's National Guard and makes Hawaii eligible for federal emergency funds.

The U.S. Geological Survey says Sunday's six-point-six magnitude earthquake was centered in the Pacific Ocean just off the sparsely-populated west coast of the island of Hawaii - the largest in the archipelago.

The quake was felt in Honolulu, 250 kilometers away on the chain's most populated island of Oahu. The earthquake triggered landslides, and damaged numerous roads, bridges and buildings. Airports were closed to outgoing flights. Widespread electric outages across the state make communications difficult.

伊拉克受新一輪教派暴力衝擊 (Fresh Wave of Sectarian Violence Grips Iraq)

新一輪教派暴力正衝擊著伊拉克，伊拉克警方說，首都巴格達以南發生的汽車炸彈爆炸導致至少10人死亡，有15人受傷。星期一的爆炸發生在距首都50公里的蘇韋拉鎮一家銀行附近，該鎮是遜尼派和什葉派人口混居地區，經常成為襲擊目標。

星期一，巴格達的路邊炸彈炸死至少三人，炸傷若干人。有關當局還在巴格達地區發現了至少八具夜間丟棄的帶有彈痕的屍體。

在另外一方面，伊拉克總理馬利基說，他要再等幾個月才開始迫使武裝分子繳械。馬利基在今日美國報星期一發表的採訪中表示， 必須解除武裝分子的武裝，但是這“需要時間”。馬利基還說，解除民兵武裝可能“在今年年底或者明年年初進行”。

Iraqi police say a car bomb has killed at least 10 people and wounded 15 others south of Baghdad as a fresh wave of sectarian violence gripped the country. Monday's blast took place near a bank in the town of Suwayra, 50 kilometers from the capital. Suwayra has a mixed population of Sunnis and Shi'ites and is frequently targeted in attacks.

Roadside bombs in Baghdad Monday killed at least three people and wounded several others. Authorities also found at least eight bodies with bullet wounds dumped in the capital area overnight.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki says he will wait several months before forcing militias to disarm. In an interview published Monday in the American newspaper "USA Today," Mr. Maliki says militias must be disbanded, but added that it will "take time." He says it could be "the end of this year or the beginning of next year."