中国爆炸事件至少50人死亡

AS IT IS 2015-08-14 Explosions in China Kill At Least 50 People 中国爆炸事件至少50人死亡

A large explosion in the Chinese port city of Tianjin has killed at least 50 people and injured at least 700 more. Officials and state media said Thursday at least 12 of those who died were firefighters.

The first explosion took place just after 11:30 p.m. local time Wednesday. A second, larger explosion followed 30 seconds later. The explosions were so large they were seen by satellites in space.

It is still unknown what caused the explosions. Chinese state media said they happened at a warehouse¹ owned by Rui Hai International Logistics.

More than 12 hours after the explosions, firefighters were still battling fires. Police said there was a risk of more explosions. There were also worries about the fumes² released from chemical fires.

Shattered homes

The nearby Jinyu Lanwan apartment complex has more than 10 high-rise buildings. The shockwave from the explosions broke most windows in the buildings. Glass covered the ground outside.

Nearby, one young migrant worker sat on the ground with friends. Like many, he said he thought the explosion was an earthquake. He said, “I saw a bright light and heard the blast and quickly started to run outside.”

He said he does not know where he will work next. For now, he plans to go back home to Shandong province.

Migrant workers employed at nearby businesses may be some of the worst affected³ by the destruction. By late Thursday local time, there were still no exact numbers on how many people may be missing.

Smoke still rising

Behind the Jinyu Lanwan apartment complex, police blocked a street that leads to the area where the explosions occurred.

Huge clouds of smoke continued to rise more than 12 hours after the explosions.

VOA reporters spoke⁴ to a truck driver surnamed Zhang. He was trying to drive his car home from near the explosion site. He talked about how he and other drivers were able to escape unharmed.

When the blast occurred, Zhang said he just ran. “It’s all a blur⁵ to me now, when everyone else ran, I just followed everyone else, we ran in one direction and then back around again without thinking.”

Cause under investigation⁶

The cause of the explosions was being investigated but state media said several containers caught fire beforehand.

Tianjin city officials had met recently with port companies to discuss increasing safety rules on the handling of dangerous chemicals. The Tianjin Administration of Work Safety posted a notice about the meeting on its website a week ago.

Tianjin is about 150 kilometers southeast of Beijing. It is China's fourth largest city and the world’s 10th largest port city.

Words in This Story

warehouse – n. a large building used for storing goods

fumes – n. smoke or gas that smells unpleasant

high-rise – n. very tall: having many floors or stories

blast – n. a powerful explosion

blur – n. something that you cannot see clearly — usually singular

1 warehouse   

n.仓库；vt.存入仓库

参考例句：

• We freighted the goods to the warehouse by truck.我们用卡车把货物运到仓库。
• The manager wants to clear off the old stocks in the warehouse.经理想把仓库里积压的存货处理掉。

2 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。

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 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 blur   

n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚

参考例句：

• The houses appeared as a blur in the mist.房子在薄雾中隐隐约约看不清。
• If you move your eyes and your head,the picture will blur.如果你的眼睛或头动了，图像就会变得模糊不清。

6 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。