VOA标准英语2009年-Search for Survivors Continues Following I

By Sabina Castelfranco
Rome
03 October 2009

Rescuers in the Sicilian city of Messina continued their search Saturday for survivors¹ of mudslides caused by torrential rains that struck earlier this week. At least 20 people have been killed and hundreds have been left homeless.

 
Firefighters remove debris² in Giampilieri near Messina, southern Italy, 3 Oct 2009
The rainstorms that hit Messina in northeast Sicily unleashed³ rivers of mud. The mud swept away homes, cars and anything else in its path. Some people took refuge on roofs and were plucked to safety by helicopter, but dozens of people are still missing.

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says the situation is extremely serious and there are concerns the death toll⁴ could rise to 50 or more. Rescuers with bulldozers and sniffer dogs continued their search for survivors Saturday. It has not stopped raining and officials say this is hampering⁵ efforts.

Messina Mayor Giuseppe Buzzanca says a desperate search continues under the collapsed⁶ buildings and rubble⁷ in the hope of finding someone still alive.

He added that his town has been cut off by rain and mud that has blocked roads and covered railway lines. He said the injured are being moved by sea and urged doctors, nurses and volunteers to go to the stricken area to provide assistance.

Residents in the area are in despair.

One woman says they are dying because the river of mud is in front of their homes. She adds that not enough is being done to help people affected⁸ by the mudslides. In addition they have been without electricity for two days.

The government in Rome meanwhile has declared a state of emergency for the area, freeing funds for relief and reconstruction⁹.

Authorities here have acknowledged that deforestation and unregulated development were responsible for weakening the soil and contributed to the mudslides from Messina's surrounding hills and cliffs.

1 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

2 debris   

n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片

参考例句：

• After the bombing there was a lot of debris everywhere.轰炸之后到处瓦砾成堆。
• Bacteria sticks to food debris in the teeth,causing decay.细菌附着在牙缝中的食物残渣上，导致蛀牙。

3 unleashed   

v.把（感情、力量等）释放出来，发泄( unleash的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The government's proposals unleashed a storm of protest in the press. 政府的提案引发了新闻界的抗议浪潮。
• The full force of his rage was unleashed against me. 他把所有的怒气都发泄在我身上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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。

5 hampering   

妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• So fraud on cows and development aid is seriously hampering growth. 因此在牛问题上和发展补助上的诈骗严重阻碍了发展。
• Short-termism, carbon-trading, disputing the science-are hampering the implementation of direct economically-led objectives. 短效主义，出售二氧化碳，进行科学辩论，这些都不利于实现以经济为主导的直接目标。

6 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

7 rubble   

n.（一堆）碎石，瓦砾

参考例句：

• After the earthquake,it took months to clean up the rubble.地震后，花了数月才清理完瓦砾。
• After the war many cities were full of rubble.战后许多城市到处可见颓垣残壁。

8 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。

9 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。