日本承诺年底关闭福岛核电站

On Sunday, the utility acknowledged that the fuel cores of two additional reactors at Fukushima-1 had also been substantially damaged and cooling water is leaking.

星期天， 这家公司承认，福岛核电站的另外两个核反应堆的堆芯燃料棒也遭到相当的损毁，冷却水也在泄漏。

High radiation levels near the units are hampering critical repairs as workers can spend only a limited amount of time there to avoid overexposure.

由于核反应堆附近的核辐射强度太大，影响到重要的修复工作。为了防止过度辐射，工人们呆在那里的时间有限。

The world’s worst nuclear accident in a quarter of a century was triggered by the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and huge tsunami that devastated Japan’s northeastern Pacific coast. Police say 25,000 people were killed or are still missing.

日本东北部太平洋沿岸发生的9级地震和巨大的海啸导致了这场大约四分之一个世纪以来全球最严峻的核事故。 警方说，大约25000人在地震和海啸中死亡或是失踪。

Concerns about radiation emanating from the plant forced the evacuation of numerous communities.

由于担心核电站的辐射，很多社区被迫撤离。

On Sunday, thousands more residents beyond the previously established 20-kilometer evacuation zone left their homes. Authorities say atmospheric conditions have raised long-term safety concerns about radiation levels in their towns and villages.

星期天，居住在最初设定的核电厂方圆20公里范围撤离区外的数千名居民离开了家园。有关当局说，这些城镇和村庄的空气环境是否安全将是一个长期担忧的问题。

About 80,000 people were initially forced out of their homes within the original no-go zone. They have yet to be informed when they might be able to reside there again.

大约有8万人被迫离开了他们在最初确定的撤离区的家。他们什么时候能够重返家园，还在等待进一步的消息。

Analysts say the nuclear crisis alone could cost Japan between $50 billion and $100 billion. Beyond that, the country, which has been in the economic doldrums for years, needs to figure out how to pay for the equally significant cost of rebuilding hundreds of coastal communities that were washed away by tsunami and other cities that suffered substantial quake damage. Some economists predict that will cost an additional $200 billion.

分析人士说，仅核危机一项就有可能给日本带来500亿到1000亿美元的损失。除此之外，由于沿海地区数百个社区被海啸冲毁，其他一些城市也在地震中也受到了严重损害，日本还需要想办法支付这些地方的巨大重建开支。 日本经济已经停滞了数年。一些经济学家预测， 重建灾区可能另外需要2000亿美元。