美国有线新闻 CNN 哥伦比亚发生严重泥石流 伤亡达数百人

 

Today's show begins in South America, where a deadly natural disaster has hit the nation of Colombia. It started in rain, torrential rain on Friday night. That caused three rivers to overflow¹ around the city of Mocoa.

It's located in the southwestern part of Colombia and the flooding washed a stream of mud into Mocoa. Many people were sleeping when the mudslide came. Other witnesses said it was moving so fast, they had to run for their lives.

Colombia officials say more than 200 people were killed and hundreds more injured. But Colombia's president expected those numbers to increase as rescuers search for survivors². More than 1,000 soldiers and police officers are involved in that effort.

They say that 80 percent of the roads around the area have problems. So, it's hard to get to people who might be trapped. Rescuers are racing³ against the clock with more than 100 people still missing.

In 2015, rain in Colombia's northwest caused a mudslide that killed more than 80 people. Scientists say heavy rain, lots of deforestation, poorly made homes and dense⁴ populations can all put residents at risk.

1 overflow   

v.(使)外溢，(使)溢出；溢出，流出，漫出

参考例句：

• The overflow from the bath ran on to the floor.浴缸里的水溢到了地板上。
• After a long period of rain,the river may overflow its banks.长时间的下雨天后，河水可能溢出岸来。

2 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

3 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

4 dense   

a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的

参考例句：

• The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
• The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。