VOA慢速英语--海平面上升 威尼斯将成水下城市

Venice, Italy is experiencing its worst flooding in more than 50 years. The floods resulted in calls Wednesday to help protect the historic¹ city from rising sea levels.

Italian officials estimate² the flood waters have caused hundreds of millions of euros in damage.

The water reached 1.87 meters above sea level Tuesday. It was the second-highest level ever recorded in Venice and just 7 centimeters lower than the historic flood of 1966.

Another wave of very high water followed on Wednesday.

"Venice is on its knees,'' Mayor³ Luigi Brugnaro said on Twitter. He added that "St. Mark's Basilica has sustained⁴ serious damage, like the entire city and its islands."

The mayor declared a state of emergency in the city.

The historic St. Mark's Basilica was flooded, while many squares and passages between buildings were left deep under water. Flood waters entered the crypt under the basilica for only the second time in its history. The water entered through windows, moving past all defenses to the burial area.

Brugnaro said on Wednesday that the combination⁵ of two wind fronts caused the second-highest tide ever recorded in Venice.

Second highest tide

"Winds from the north and south entered the harbor⁶ entrance pushing the sea into the lagoon⁷ and increasing the tide," he said. The mayor added that the sea had covered the island of Pellestrina — a landmass that defends the lagoon city.

Nearly every home on the island appeared to have flood waters reaching their front doors or entrances. One man died on Pellestrina while trying to pump water out of his house.

People visiting Venice floated suitcases through St. Mark's Square. Officials removed walkways to prevent the suitcases from floating away. Water poured through wooden boards that store and hotel owners placed in front of doors to hold back water during flooding. Travelers staying on the ground floor of hotels were forced to move to upper floors overnight⁸.

The flood damage

Pictures on social media showed a city ferry, water taxis and gondolas⁹ — another kind of boat — grounded on walkways. At least 60 boats were damaged in the flooding, civil protection officials said.

Brugnaro said the damage would reach hundreds of millions of euros, and he called on Italy's government to declare a state of emergency.

Venice's mayor told reporters it was not just about the financial damages, "but of the very future of the city." He said people would leave the city because of the flooding.

The city is built upon a system of canals.

Brugnaro blamed climate change for the "dramatic¹⁰ situation." He called for quick completion of a long-delayed project called ‘Moses.' This project involves building movable undersea barriers to limit flooding. No launch¹¹ date is in sight.

The worst may be yet to come. More bad weather is predicted to come over the next few days.

Words in This Story

square – n. an open space or central meeting place

tide – n. the regular upward¹² and downward movement of the level of the ocean that is caused by the pull of the Sun and the Moon on the Earth

lagoon – n. an area of sea water that is separated from the ocean by a reef¹³ or sandbar

harbor – n. a part of the ocean, a lake, etc., that is next to land and that is protected and deep enough to provide safety for ships

suitcase – n. a large case that you use to carry your clothing and belongings¹⁴ when you are traveling

canal – n. a man-made waterway for boating or transporting water to farmland

1 historic   

adj.历史上著名的，具有历史意义的

参考例句：

• This is a historic occasion.这是具有重大历史意义的时刻。
• We are living in a great historic era.我们正处在一个伟大的历史时代。

2 estimate   

n.估计，估量；评价，看法；vt.估计，估量

参考例句：

• We estimate the cost to be five thousand dollars.我们估计费用为5000美元。
• The lowest estimate would put the worth of the jewel at ＄200.按最低的评估这块宝石也值200美元。

3 mayor   

n.市长

参考例句：

• The new mayor said he would clean the city up.新市长说，他要整顿本市。
• The mayor hurried into his office,brushing off the reporters.市长赶快走进办公室，拒不接见记者。

4 sustained   

adj.持久的，持续的v.维持( sustain的过去式和过去分词 )；支撑；忍受；长期保持

参考例句：

• Without correct leadership, the enthusiasm of the masses cannot be sustained. 没有正确的领导，群众的积极性就不可能持久。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He has sustained a great loss by the death of his father. 他父亲的去世使他蒙受巨大的损失。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 combination   

n.组合，合并，联合；

参考例句：

• He carried on the business in combination with his friends.他与朋友们合伙做生意。
• The materials can be used singly or in combination.这些材料可以单独使用也可以混合用。

6 harbor   

n.海港，港口；vt.庇护，藏匿；心怀(怨恨等)

参考例句：

• The harbor lies to the south of the city.港口在城市的南边。
• At that time,our ship was tied up at this harbor.当时我们的船停靠在这个港口。

7 lagoon   

n.泻湖，咸水湖

参考例句：

• The lagoon was pullulated with tropical fish.那个咸水湖聚满了热带鱼。
• This area isolates a restricted lagoon environment.将这一地区隔离起来使形成一个封闭的泻湖环境。

8 overnight   

ad.前一天晚上，一夜间 a.前一天晚上的

参考例句：

• She stayed overnight in the hotel. 她在旅馆过了一夜。
• Our success is not won overnight. 我们的成功不是一夜之间得来的。

9 gondolas   

n.狭长小船( gondola的名词复数 )；货架（一般指商店，例如化妆品店）；吊船工作台

参考例句：

• When the G-Force is in motion, the gondolas turn as well. 当“惊呼狂叫”开始旋转时，平底船也同时旋转。 来自互联网
• Moreton Engineering &Equipment Co. Ltd. -Services include sales tower crane, gondolas, material hoist construction equipment. 山明模型工作室-制作建筑模型，包括售楼模型、规划模型、比赛模型等。 来自互联网

10 dramatic   

adj.引人注目的；戏剧的；演戏的

参考例句：

• She plays a very dramatic woman with flashing eyes.她饰演一位双眼闪光的引人注目的妇人。
• His speech was dramatic.他的演说激动人心。

11 launch   

vt.发动，推出；发射；n.发射，下水，投产

参考例句：

• The makers are about to launch out a new product.制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。
• Would it be wise to launch into this rough sea?在这样汹涌的大海中游泳明智吗？

12 upward   

adj.向上的，上升的；adv.向上，上升

参考例句：

• The birds flew upward.鸟儿向上飞去。
• Prices have an upward tendency.价格有上升的趋势。

13 reef   

n.礁，礁石，暗礁

参考例句：

• The ship and its crew were lost on the reef.那条船及船员都触礁遇难了。
• The ship was wrecked on a coral reef.这条船在珊瑚暗礁上撞毁了。

14 belongings   

n.私人物品，私人财物

参考例句：

• I put a few personal belongings in a bag.我把几件私人物品装进包中。
• Your personal belongings are not dutiable.个人物品不用纳税。