(英会話リスニングスクリプト)
Now, experts are predicting that another
major quake is inevitable and that the effects could be
far worse than in 1923.
They say that, if the epicenter of the quake
is beneath Tokyo's 23 wards, it would destroy about 143,000
buildings in the capital.
The fires which follow a quake would destroy
378,000 buildings, especially in the areas where there are
large numbers of old, wooden houses.
As a result, the experts say, 7,160 people
would be killed and 158,000 injured.
A lot of them would be killed by collapsing
buildings or die in the fires.
If it occurred on a weekday, it could affect
as many as 7 million commuters, who would be unable to return
home immediately after the disaster.
However, other experts say that a disaster
on this scale is unlikely.
They say that it is impossible to predict
how bad such a quake would be because there are so many
factors involved.
These factors include the time of day, the
time of year and weather conditions.
Although, most experts agree that a major
quake will hit Tokyo sooner or later, nobody really has
any idea about how bad it will be.
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