千葉で地震多発 県民に不安広がる［2024.3.2］

千葉県内で地震が多発している。県東方沖を震源とする揺れが続いている他、2日未明には県南部が震源のマグニチュード（M）5・0の地震が発生し、千葉市若葉や長南町、いすみ市などで震度4の揺れを観測した。県民からは相次ぐ地震に「能登半島地震もあったので、かなり心配している」と不安の声が上がり、県も警戒を呼びかけている。

2日午前1時49分ごろ、長南町の男性（76）は自宅2階で寝ていた時、地震に襲われた。「ガタガタ」と障子が揺れる音がした後に「かなり長い時間、横揺れが続いた」。その後も小さな地震が頻発し、一睡もできなかったという。

気象庁によると、県内では2月26日から2日午前11時までに、県東方沖を震源とする地震が20回観測されている。震度4の地震は2月29日と1日にもあった。1日は東金市や市原市、山武市、長南町などで震度4が記録された。一方、県南部が震源の地震は1日から2日午前11時までに7回観測された。

　1987年12月17日の「千葉県東方沖地震」のマグニチュードは6・7で、勝浦市と千葉市、銚子市で最大震度5を観測。県内で2人の死者、100人以上の重軽傷者が出て、甚大な建物被害も発生した。男性方も屋根瓦が落下する被害を受けた。

　男性は多発する地震を受け、自宅にある食器棚の扉をひもで縛って食器が落ちないようにしている。服用薬もまとめて保管し、避難の際にすぐに持ち出せるよう備えている。男性は「2月末から長南町でも地震が頻繁に起きている。37年前のような大きな地震が発生しなければいいのだが」と不安そうに話した。

　県東方沖を震源とする地震多発を受け、県はSNSを通じて県民に注意喚起している。県防災対策課の担当者は「大きな地震がいつ来るかは分からないので、安全を確保できるよう対策を取ってもらいたい」としている。

■英訳

Earthquakes are occurring frequently in Chiba Prefecture. Tremors originating off the eastern coast of the prefecture continue, and in the early hours of the 2nd, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake with its epicenter in the southern part of the prefecture occurred, causing shaking with an intensity of 4 in areas such as Chiba City, Wakaba, and Nagaminami Town. Concerns have been raised among residents due to the successive earthquakes, with one person expressing, "Since the Noto Peninsula earthquake, I am quite worried," prompting the prefecture to issue a warning.

Around 1:49 a.m. on the 2nd, a 76-year-old man in Nagaminami Town was asleep on the second floor of his home when the earthquake struck. He described hearing the sound of sliding doors rattling, followed by "a fairly long period of shaking." Afterward, small earthquakes continued to occur frequently, preventing him from getting any rest.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, there have been 20 earthquakes observed in the prefecture originating off the eastern coast from February 26th to 11:00 a.m. on the 2nd. Earthquakes with an intensity of 4 were also recorded on February 29th and March 1st. On the 1st, earthquakes with an intensity of 4 were recorded in cities such as Togane, Ichihara, Sanmu, and Nagaminami Town. Meanwhile, earthquakes originating in the southern part of the prefecture were observed seven times from the 1st to 11:00 a.m. on the 2nd.

The magnitude of the "Chiba Prefecture Eastern Offshore Earthquake" on December 17, 1987, was 6.7, with maximum intensity of 5 observed in Katsuura City, Chiba City, and Choshi City. The earthquake resulted in two fatalities and over 100 people injured, as well as extensive damage to buildings. The man also suffered damage from falling roof tiles.

In response to the frequent earthquakes, the man has secured the doors of his cupboard with string to prevent dishes from falling and has organized his medication for easy evacuation. He expressed anxiety, saying, "Earthquakes have been happening frequently in Nagaminami Town since the end of February. I hope there won't be a big earthquake like 37 years ago."

In light of the frequent earthquakes originating off the eastern coast of the prefecture, the prefecture is urging residents to be cautious through social media. An official from the Prefectural Disaster Prevention Division stated, "We don't know when a big earthquake will occur, so we want people to take measures to ensure their safety."

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