VOA常速英语2007-Tropical Storm Noel Kills 22 in Caribbean

By Brian Wagner
Miami
30 October 2007

Officials in Dominican Republic say at least 16 people have died in flash floods and mudslides caused by Tropical Storm Noel. In Miami, VOA's Brian Wagner reports the storm is continuing to drop heavy rains as it moves over Cuba and toward the Bahamas and Florida.

Radar¹ has shown the center of Tropical Storm Noel moving across the island of Cuba, bringing heavy rain and winds of about 75 kilometers per hour.

Forecaster Dennis Feltgen of the National Hurricane Center in Miami says the storm has not reached hurricane status, but it still poses a serious threat to the region.

"Rain is going to be the problem with Noel for a lot of folks through the Caribbean particularly Hispaniola, the Bahamas and eastern Cuba," he said. "Hispaniola is at the greatest threat right now."

Feltgen says the Dominican Republic has been hardest hit by the storm's torrential rains, including up to 30 centimeters of rainfall in some parts of the country.

Dominican officials say the storm cut off power across the island and destroyed roads, bridges and other infrastructure² when it hit on Monday. Scores of families lost their homes, and more than 20 people were reported missing after the storm moved through. Some non-governmental relief groups said they expect the official death toll³ to rise as reports arrive from remote areas.

Some Dominican residents say they were unprepared for the storm because its path shifted after initial forecasts showed it moving towards Haiti, on the western side of Hispaniola.

Officials in Haiti said the storm caused minor⁴ damage and at least two deaths were reported.

Forecasters say the center of Noel will remain over central Cuba until early Wednesday, when it will re-emerge over water. They say the storm is not expected to gain considerable strength, but heavy rainfall will continue as the storm shifts towards the northeast on its way toward Florida and the Bahamas later in the week.

1 radar   

n.雷达，无线电探测器

参考例句：

• They are following the flight of an aircraft by radar.他们正在用雷达追踪一架飞机的飞行。
• Enemy ships were detected on the radar.敌舰的影像已显现在雷达上。

2 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。

3 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

4 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。