美國英語聽力80篇2 Lesson27
27) Flooding
Flooding is continuing for a third week in southern African countries.
:Strong rain and wind have destroyed houses, bridges and roads in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Crops have been destroyed, and thousands of cattle have been lost.
It is saidto be the worst flooding in the area in fifty years.
The flooding is worst in Mozambique.
Hundreds of people have died in the floodingin the central and southern parts of the country.
As many as 1,000,000 people have lost their homes.
A huge flood wave moved down the country's northern Limpopo River on Sunday.
The waters flooded the small town of Chokwe.
Many people trapped by the rising floodwater climbed to the tops of trees or houses in hopes of being rescued.
South African military helicopters have rescued about 8,000 people in the area.
But South African officials say thousands of people could not be rescued because of a lack of helicopters.
The number of dead is said to be increasing in Mozambique.
International aid agencies say more helicopters and humanitarian aid are needed in Mozambique.
They say without more aid, hundreds of thousands of people may die.
The World Food Program says the risk of starvation and disease is growing.
The United Nations says governments have promised more than 13,000,000 dollars in aid for Mozambique.
And, the World Food Program says it has begun a 7,000,000,dollar emergency aid operation.
The United States and other countries are sending food and emergency supplies to Mozambique.
PreSident Joaquim Chissano visited the flooded areas earlier this week and appealed for more international aid.
The flooding ended years of development work and economic recovery in-southern African countries.
Mozambique says it will take more than 16,000,000 dollars to rebuild.
More flooding is expected in the central and southern parts of the country in the next few days.
Environmental experts say much of the flooding is caused by the destruction of wetlands in southern Africa.
They say wetlands are like huge sponges that can take in large amounts of water.
