澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2009-09-30

A tsunami¹ in American Samoa has reportedly killed about 40 people, flattened² houses and swept away cars. The wave was caused by an 8.3-magnitude earthquake which struck 200 kilometers off the Samoan coast this morning. New Zealand’s Foreign Ministry³ says many people were swept out to sea and are still unaccounted for. Local hospitals have been inundated⁴ by the injured and the Red Cross is assisting medical staff. The capital Apia is reported to be fine. But villages in the south have been badly damaged and residents have been evacuated⁵. Geoscience Australia has downgraded the tsunami warning for the rest of the Pacific.

The Federal Government says seven Australians are in hospital in Samoa. Early reports suggest their injuries are not serious. Anyone with concerns about family in the area should contact the Foreign Affairs Department on 1300 555 135.

Meanwhile, a typhoon that struck the Philippines has now hit Vietnam. At least 30 people have died and the Vietnamese government has ordered the evacuation of more than 170,000 people. Strong winds and heavy rain lash⁶ the Central Coast. The Philippines is now preparing for a second storm just days after the typhoon killed 246 people.

Join us for more news later.

1 tsunami   

n.海啸

参考例句：

• Powerful quake sparks tsunami warning in Japan.大地震触发了日本的海啸预警。
• Coastlines all around the Indian Ocean inundated by a huge tsunami.大海啸把印度洋沿岸地区都淹没了。

2 flattened   

[医]（水）平扁的，弄平的

参考例句：

• She flattened her nose and lips against the window. 她把鼻子和嘴唇紧贴着窗户。
• I flattened myself against the wall to let them pass. 我身体紧靠着墙让他们通过。

3 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。

4 inundated   

v.淹没( inundate的过去式和过去分词 )；（洪水般地）涌来；充满；给予或交予（太多事物）使难以应付

参考例句：

• We have been inundated with offers of help. 主动援助多得使我们应接不暇。
• We have been inundated with every bit of information imaginable. 凡是想得到的各种各样的信息潮水般地向我们涌来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 evacuated   

撤退者的

参考例句：

• Police evacuated nearby buildings. 警方已将附近大楼的居民疏散。
• The fireman evacuated the guests from the burning hotel. 消防队员把客人们从燃烧着的旅馆中撤出来。

6 lash   

v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛

参考例句：

• He received a lash of her hand on his cheek.他突然被她打了一记耳光。
• With a lash of its tail the tiger leaped at her.老虎把尾巴一甩朝她扑过来。