September 21, 1999—a 7.6-magnitude earthquake rocked Taiwan. It was the second deadliest earthquake to ever strike the island. Buildings shook and crumbled for more than 40 terrifying seconds. When the dust settled, central Taiwan lay in ruins. More than 2,400 people were dead, more than 10,000 injured, and more than 100,000 homeless.
1999 年 9 月 21 號－－一場規模 7.6 的地震撼動台灣。這是史上襲擊台灣第二致命的地震。建築物搖晃坍塌持續了駭人的四十秒。當塵土落下，中台灣一片狼藉。超過兩千四百人死亡、超過一萬人受傷，還有超過十萬人無家可歸。
Taiwan's president, Ma Ying-Jeou, was mayor of Taipei in 1999 and talked live with CNN during our coverage of the quake. Today, President Ma says he is committed to earthquake monitoring and research, and the sharing of that information. In a historic agreement between Taiwan and China earlier this year, President Ma signed a pact to share research of meteorological and seismic activity in the Taiwan Strait. President Ma told CNN in March the cross-strait agreement is vital to safety and prevention of loss of life for both China and Taiwan.
台灣總統馬英九，1999 年那時為台北市長，在我們對這場地震的報導中和 CNN 現場連線對話。如今，馬總統表示自己致力於地震監控和研究，以及研究資料的分享。在台灣和中國今年稍早一項歷史性協議中，馬總統簽下一份條約共同承擔台灣海峽的氣象和地震活動研究。馬總統三月時向 CNN 表示，這項兩岸協議對中國和台灣的安全及防範生命損失是很重要的。
CNN visited the Central Weather Bureau in Taipei, where we got a first-hand look at the earthquake monitoring and research under way. Here is where scientists hope to gather enough information before a major earthquake strikes and be able to warn and protect the island. Every fault is analyzed, every tiny tremor recorded.
CNN 拜訪了位於台北的中央氣象局，我們在那直接看到地震監控和研究進行。這裡是科學家們希望在大地震來襲前收集到足夠資料，並能夠警告和保護這座島嶼的地方。每一個斷層都被分析研究、每一次微小的震動都被記錄下來。
After 15 years, we've made a lot of progress on rapid reporting system. Because 15 years ago when that devastating earthquake hit, it took us 102 seconds to report, but right now, we can do that in 20 seconds.
十五年過去，我們在地震速報系統上有很大的進步。因為十五年前那場驚人的大地震來襲時，我們花了一百零二秒回報，但現在，我們在二十秒內就可以做到了。
But one seismologist we talked with admits there is no way to predict an earthquake.
但我們採訪的一位地震學家承認，地震不可能預測得出來。
Right now, our network is about more than 150 stations in and around Taiwan. But, like the one we had in 1906 and 1935—it's just, like, 20 years something—it'll happen again. And so, actually, it's quite difficult to predict the next major earthquake.
目前，我們的監測網是大概在全台灣有超過一百五十個監測站。但是，就像我們在 1906 年和 1935 年的地震－－那大概是隔二十年左右吧－－地震會再度發生。所以事實上，要預測下一次大地震是滿困難的。
On this 15th anniversary, as the scars of the massive earthquake remain not only in Taiwan's landscape but also in the hearts and minds of the people, there's hope that the island will be better prepared for future earthquakes.
十五週年這天，當大地震的傷痕不只留在台灣的地質景觀，同時也留在人民的心靈中，仍舊存在著這座島嶼面對未來的地震能有更完善準備的希望。
Victoria Kennedy, CNN, Taipei, Taiwan.
CNN 記者 Victoria Kennedy 在台灣台北為您報導。
