[05-17] 看新闻，学英语！VOA 双语新闻 - 星期四 (05152008)

星期四 (05152008)

China Says Quake Death Toll Could Top 50,000
(中国称地震死难者可能逾5万)

China says nearly 400 dams and reservoirs near the epicenter of Monday's deadly earthquake were damaged, triggering new worries as Chinese officials warned today (Thursday) that the death toll could top 50-thousand.

The military is in a race against time to rescue tens of thousands believed buried beneath the rubble from Monday's quake. Officials in southwestern Sichuan province say the known death toll has risen to more than 19-thousand-500.

The official Xinhua news agency says troops have been sent to repair cracks in the Zipingpu Dam in Sichuan. China's water minister (Chen Lei) says there are major safety issues with dams, reservoirs, and hydropower stations in the earthquake zone.

The Chinese military has sent 130-thousand troops to Sichuan and deployed 101 more helicopters to airlift victims and drop emergency supplies to quake survivors.
中国说，星期一致命大地震震中附近有将近400座水坝和水库受到损坏，引发外界新的担忧。中国官员今天(星期四)警告说，死亡人数可能超过五万。

军方继续争取时间抢救数以万计被埋在废墟下的人。西南省份四川的官员说，死亡人数已经上升到了一万九千五百多人。

官方的新华社说，部队已被派去修复四川紫坪铺大坝的裂缝。中国水利部部长说，震区的水坝、水库和水电站都存在严重的安全问题。

中国军队已经向四川派出13万军人，并增派101架直升机来转移灾民并向幸存者空投急救物资。