哥伦比亚监狱火灾死亡人数攀升到16

哥伦比亚监狱火灾死亡人数攀升到16 　　

BOGOTA, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- The death toll¹ from a prison fire in Colombia's northern city of Barranquilla has climbed to 16, local authorities said on Thursday.

　　The fire on Jan. 27 at the city's Modelo Prison started when inmates² set fire to mattresses³ after wardens⁴ used tear gas to stop a clash between members of rival gangs.

　　On Thursday, Alma Solano, local health secretary in Barranquilla, said the death of inmates who had been taken to hospital for injuries brought the toll to 16.

　　"Between yesterday and today, the death toll has climbed to 16 from 14. One of the inmates had burns over 40 percent of his body as well as (damage to) his respiratory system," she said.

　　Prison authorities said 15 inmates are still hospitalized and security measures have been strengthened at the hospitals after one of them attempted to escape.

1 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。

2 inmates   

n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• One of the inmates has escaped. 被收容的人中有一个逃跑了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The inmates were moved to an undisclosed location. 监狱里的囚犯被转移到一个秘密处所。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 mattresses   

褥垫，床垫( mattress的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The straw mattresses are airing there. 草垫子正在那里晾着。
• The researchers tested more than 20 mattresses of various materials. 研究人员试验了二十多个不同材料的床垫。

4 wardens   

n.看守人( warden的名词复数 )；管理员；监察员；监察官

参考例句：

• Air raid wardens in tin hats self-importantly stalked the streets. 空袭民防队员戴着钢盔神气活现地走在街上昂首阔步。 来自辞典例句
• The game wardens tranquillized the rhinoceros with a drugged dart. 猎物保护区管理员用麻醉射器让犀牛静了下来。 来自辞典例句