1 . Rescuers in Jersey said Sunday after an all-night search that there was no hope of survivors from an explosion that flattened a three-story apartment block. At least three people were confirmed killed in the accident early Saturday in the Channel island’s port capital St Helier, following a suspected gas leak. “We have three confirmed deaths and it’s fair to say we expect to find more,” police chief Robin Smith told a news conference, saying that around 12 residents remained unaccounted for. “It is with sadness that I am confirming that the search-and-rescue operation has been moved to a recovery operation,” he said.
The phase involved a “painstaking search of the debris” which could take weeks, Smith said, adding that a gas leak was the ‘likely” cause. Aided by sniffer dogs and experts from southern England, Jersey emergency workers had searched the rubble (瓦砾)overnight.
Fire chief Paul Brown confirmed that firefighters were called out to investigate the smell of gas on Friday evening, more than seven hours before the explosion. But in vain. He admitted that something had gone “horribly wrong”, considering the subsequent disaster, but insisted that Jersey islanders could still have confidence in his service. Jersey’s gas supplier, Island Energy, said it was working with the fire service to understand what happened.
Like many others in St Helier, Jersey’s Chief Minister Kristina Moore said she was awoken by the explosion. “Across the island you could hear this extraordinary sound,” she told the BBC. “It’s unthinkable news, so we’re all absolutely shocked and really worried about the people who are involved and about those whose lives have been lost.”
The incident caps a tragic week for Jersey, a British Crown dependency not part of the United Kingdom, whose economy relies on banking, tourism and fishing. “We must call on the collective strength of the island community,” Moore said.
1. What’s the possible cause of the accident?A.The gas leak. | B.The gas supplier. |
C.The recovery operation. | D.The unexpected explosion. |
A.Rescuing the dead. | B.Searching the rubble. |
C.Searching for the debris. | D.Working with fire service. |
A.He had predicted the explosion hours before it. |
B.The fire service was investigating the explosion. |
C.People lost confidence in the island’s fire service. |
D.The fire service was partly responsible for the accident. |
A.Panicked and frightened. | B.Relieved and hopeful. |
C.Astonished and concerned. | D.Fearful and sorrowful. |
2 . A great number of people can get injured or even killed resulting from a human stampede (踩踏).The bad thing is that a peaceful group of people can quickly become concerned and panicked(恐慌).
Be aware of the general atmosphere of the event, as panic situations can often be expected. When in danger, a few seconds can make all the difference. If you find yourself in the middle of a moving crowd, do not fight against the pressure, do not stand still or sit down.
If you fall, get up quickly. If you fall and cannot get up, keep moving by crawling in the same direction of the crowd, or if that is not possible, then cover your head with your arms and curl (蜷缩) up.
A.Make yourself know the type of ground you are standing on |
B.Do not lie on your stomach or back, as this dangerously leaves your lungs unprotected |
C.If you are stepped on, you should shout for help |
D.Instead, move in the same direction of the crowd |
E.Keep your hands up by your chest, like a boxer |
F.What’s worse is that the stampede can be caused while there seems no actual danger |
G.Raise your arms to the full length |