加拿大东部运载原油的火车出轨

 　　OTTAWA, July 6 (Xinhua) -- A large portion of a town in eastern Quebec province of Canada was destroyed after a train carrying crude oil derailed early Saturday, causing explosions and forcing the evacuation of about 1,000 people from their homes.

　　A spokesperson for Quebec's Environment Ministry¹ told local media that 73 rail cars filled with crude oil were involved in the accident happening in the town of Lac-Megantic, some 250 kilometers east of Montreal.

　　At least four of the cars exploded, igniting a fire that sent flames shooting into the sky. Belching² smoke could be seen from several kilometers away.

　　Authorities said some 30 buildings were affected³ in the town of 6,000 people, but so far no casualties were reported.

　　More than 100 firefighters from Quebec and from the United States were on the scene early Saturday morning to try to bring the flames under control.

　　The cause of the derailment was under investigation⁴. A spokesperson for Quebec provincial⁵ police said it was still too early to say what caused the derailment.

　　The train, reportedly heading to Maine, belongs to Montreal Maine & Atlantic, which owns mor than 800 kilometers of track serving Maine, Vermont, Quebec and New Brunswick, according to the company's website.

1 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

2 belching   

n. 喷出，打嗝 动词belch的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• The Tartars employed another weapon, the so-called Chinese dragon belching fire. 鞑靼人使用了另一种武器，所谓中国龙喷火器。
• Billows of smoke were belching from the chimney. 巨浪似的烟正从烟囱里喷出来。

3 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。

4 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

5 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。