俄罗斯精神病院发生火灾已致38人遇难

 　　MOSCOW, April 26 (Xinhua) -- A big fire broke out in a mental hospital in Russia's Moscow region early Friday, killing¹ at least 38 people, local authorities said.

　　"We have a list of 38 people who have died and been identified," a source in the hospital told Xinhua through telephone.

　　Two patients and one nurse escaped the fire unharmed, she added.

　　The Health Ministry² confirmed the death toll³, saying 36 patients and two medical workers were killed in the tragedy.

　　The fire broke out at 2:23 a.m. local time (2223 GMT Thursday) in a single-story wooden building of the Ramenskoye 14th mental hospital in Moscow's northern Dmitrov district. The blaze was brought under control after about four hours.

　　The fire might have been caused by short circuit in the building, the police said, adding that most of the people died asleep inhaling⁴ the fumes⁵.

　　Since the fire broke out at night, it was hard for those inside the hospital to escape. Search and rescue work was hindered due to the heavy smoke around the building, which was almost burnt down.

　　According to emergency authorities, fire engines arrived too late and missed the opportunity to put out the fire at the early stage, as the nearest fire station is located 50 km away.

　　Following the tragedy, Andrei Vorobyov, interim⁶ governor of the Moscow region, declared a day of mourning.

　　President Vladimir Putin ordered authorities to investigate the tragedy and assist the survivors⁷.

　　The local government on Friday launched a massive fire safety check at all social institutions in the Moscow region, including hospitals and schools.

1 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

2 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。

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 inhaling   

v.吸入( inhale的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was treated for the effects of inhaling smoke. 他因吸入烟尘而接受治疗。 来自辞典例句
• The long-term effects of inhaling contaminated air is unknown. 长期吸入被污染空气的影响还无从知晓。 来自互联网

5 fumes   

n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体

参考例句：

• The health of our children is being endangered by exhaust fumes. 我们孩子们的健康正受到排放出的废气的损害。
• Exhaust fumes are bad for your health. 废气对健康有害。

6 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

7 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