Japan's day of destruction

Shirakawa, Japan (CNN) -- Rescuers plucked dazed survivors from collapsed homes, muddy waters and raging fires Saturday, a day after a powerful earthquake tore through northeastern Japan, unleashing waves that swallowed entire neighborhoods along the coast.
More than 900 people were killed and about 700 were missing, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported. The number of dead is expected to rise as rescuers reach more hard-hit areas.
Aftershocks continued to jolt the island nation Saturday, including two at 6.1 and 6.4 magnitude.

PLUCK FROM = ARRANCAR DE................ RAGING FIRES = FUEGO ATROZ.................HARD-HIT = DURAMENTE GOLPEADAS

DAZED = ATURDIDOS................................TEAR/TORE/TORN = DESGARRAR..............AFTERSHOCK = RÉPLICAS

SURVIVORS= SUPERVIVIENTES..................UNLEASHING = DESENCADENADO

MUDDY = EMBARRADO.............................SWALLOW = ENGULLIR

In the city of Shirakawa, south of Sendai, rescuers dug through rubble with shovels to try to reach 13 neighbors trapped when the earth opened up and swallowed their homes.
Relatives and friends stood in the cold, quietly watching, praying and waiting. Others wept.
In other affected areas, military choppers plucked people from rooftops. In some cases, rescuers trudged in muddy water, carrying survivors on their backs. Weary, mud-spattered residents wandered through streets filled with crumpled cars and other debris.
The original quake struck Friday and left towns and villages along the northeastern coast devastated. Scores of aftershocks followed Saturday.

RUBBLE = ESCOMBROS.....................CHOPPER = HELICÓPTERO.................................MUD-SPATTERED = SALPICADOS DE BARRO

SHOVELS = PALAS.............................TRUDGE = CAMINAR CON DIFICULTAD............WANDER = CAMINAR SIN RUMBO

WEEP/wept/wept = SOLLOZAR............WEARY = AGOTADO...........................................CRUMPLED = ABOLLAR
DEBRIS = ESCOMBROS, DESHECHOS

LISTENING COMPREHENSION:

1. What is the biggest problem right now?

2. What was the only food the reporter could have in 12 hours?

3. What does the Japanese Prime Minister say after inspecting the damage caused by the quake?

4. How many people are buried alive in Shirakawa? What are the difficulties to rescue them?