VOA标准英语2014--South Korea Continues Search for Survivors of Sunken Ferry

 

South Korea Continues Search for Survivors¹ of Sunken Ferry

WASHINGTON — South Korea continues desperate efforts to save 287 people still missing a day after a ferry carrying about 470 passengers sank off the country's southwestern coast. Most of the passengers were high school students and their teachers on an excursion. Nine people have been confirmed dead so far, and 179 have been plucked from the sunken vessel² or the waters around it. A U.S. Navy ship stands ready to assist in the massive rescue operation.

The Coast Guard, military vessels³, helicopters and divers⁴ have been searching for survivors of the sunken ferry. Distraught parents have gathered along the coast hoping for the return of their children and bracing⁵ for the worst.

"I felt like my heart stopped. I can't describe the feeling with one word. I was too shocked. I can't even talk about it," said Jung Kyeong-mi, mother of an 18-year-old student, describing her feelings when she heard the boat had sunk.

It was not immediately clear why the Sewol ferry listed heavily to one side and capsized in calm waters off South Korea's southwest coast. Some survivors reported hearing a loud noise before the vessel started sinking.

Some of the passengers who jumped into the water as the ferry went down were picked up by commercial vessels. Rescue teams balanced on the sinking hull⁶ to pull some people from cabin windows and helicopter crews plucked others from the deck. 

Survivors were taken to a temporary shelter where they were wrapped into blankets and received medical assistance. 

"I held a handrail and moved toward the right side of the ferry to ride a helicopter as water kept coming in," said Kim Tae-yuon, one of the students who was rescued.

Many others were not so lucky and remained trapped in the ship's cabins.

"I was keeping still without making any movements.  There was an announcement that we should not move," said Cha Eun-ok, an elderly woman who was on board.

The Sewol sank Wednesday morning near the island of Jindo. Officials from the company that owns the ship apologized for the accident. During a meeting with emergency officials, South Korean President Park Geun-hye expressed her sympathies to those affected⁷.

"I think it is truly tragic⁸ that the students who were going on a field trip and the passengers were involved in such an unfortunate accident," said Park.

The U.S. Navy's amphibious assault ship, USS Bonhomme Richard, is nearby and has helicopters and boats to help if needed. The large ship was on routine patrol in waters west of the Korean peninsula. Low water temperatures and fast currents worsened the situation overnight for any possible survivors.

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 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

3 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 divers   

adj.不同的；种种的

参考例句：

• He chose divers of them,who were asked to accompany him.他选择他们当中的几个人，要他们和他作伴。
• Two divers work together while a standby diver remains on the surface.两名潜水员协同工作，同时有一名候补潜水员留在水面上。

5 bracing   

adj.令人振奋的

参考例句：

• The country is bracing itself for the threatened enemy invasion. 这个国家正准备奋起抵抗敌人的入侵威胁。
• The atmosphere in the new government was bracing. 新政府的气氛是令人振奋的。

6 hull   

n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳

参考例句：

• The outer surface of ship's hull is very hard.船体的外表面非常坚硬。
• The boat's hull has been staved in by the tremendous seas.小船壳让巨浪打穿了。

7 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。

8 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。