肯尼亚山洪致32人丧生

 　　NAIROBI, April 10 (Xinhua) -- At least 32 people were killed and 18,633 others displaced by flash floods caused by heavy rains in Kenya, the East African nation's Red Cross Society (KRCS) said Wednesday.

　　The KRCS also reported 14 people were injured and six others missing in the floods.

　　"Several parts of the country especially the Coast and Western Kenya regions have been affected¹ by flooding following an increased heavy downpour countrywide," the humanitarian² agency said in a statement issued in the capital Nairobi.

　　The government has advised people living in flood prone³ areas to move to higher ground following the heavy rains in many parts of the country.

　　Widespread destruction of property and infrastructure⁴ has also resulted, as well as disruption of key activities such as farming and education.

　　The most affected regions are in Western Kenya, Coastal⁵ region and parts of Rift⁶ Valley where heavy rains have washed away bridges and rendered many roads impassable, making difficult efforts to reach thousands of people made homeless by the flooding

　　The development comes as meteorological department says depressed⁷ and poorly distributed rainfall is expected over most parts of the country during March-May "Long-Rains" season.

　　According to Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), this is likely to be more pronounced in the Arid⁸ and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs). It said the western and central counties including Nairobi as well as the Coastal strip are likely to experience enhanced rainfall.

　　"Most of the rainfall in the country is expected during the peak month of April except over the Coastal strip where the peak is expected during the month of May," KMD said.

　　The weather experts said in northwestern and Southeastern Kenya, the rainfall performance is likely to be generally depressed in April and May but slightly enhanced in March.

　　"Generally enhanced rainfall is expected over the western highlands, Lake Basin, central Rift Valley and the central highlands including Nairobi in March and April. It is, however, expected to be generally depressed in May," it said.

　　KMD said northeastern parts are likely to experience generally depressed rainfall throughout the season. The southeastern counties are expected to receive depressed rainfall throughout the period.

　　The rainfall performance along the Coastal Strip is expected to be near normal in March and April but enhanced in May especially along the north coast.

1 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

2 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

3 prone   

adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的

参考例句：

• Some people are prone to jump to hasty conclusions.有些人往往作出轻率的结论。
• He is prone to lose his temper when people disagree with him.人家一不同意他的意见,他就发脾气。

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

6 rift   

n.裂口，隙缝，切口；v.裂开，割开，渗入

参考例句：

• He was anxious to mend the rift between the two men.他急于弥合这两个人之间的裂痕。
• The sun appeared through a rift in the clouds.太阳从云层间隙中冒出来。

7 depressed   

adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的

参考例句：

• When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
• His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。

8 arid   

adj.干旱的；(土地)贫瘠的

参考例句：

• These trees will shield off arid winds and protect the fields.这些树能挡住旱风,保护农田。
• There are serious problems of land degradation in some arid zones.在一些干旱地带存在严重的土地退化问题。