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Lately it seems like the U.S. state of Louisiana can't catch a break. |
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Still recovering from the ravages of hurricane Katrina, the Pelican State is bracing for a new disaster in the form of rising floodwaters on the swollen Mississippi River. |
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近來，美國路易斯安那州似乎就是不走運。這個鵜鶘之州還在從卡崔娜颶風的災害復原當中，卻又面臨另一場新災難，也就是密西西比河暴漲之後可能造成的洪水泛濫。 |
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Residents of south-central Louisiana's Atchafalaya Basin anxiously awaited news late Thursday of whether a spillway will be opened, sending millions of gallons of floodwaters their way. |
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They had already been evacuated from their homes as a precaution. |
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路易斯安那州中南部阿契法拉雅盆地的居民在週四深夜焦急等待著洩洪道是否會開放的消息。一旦開放，將會有數百萬加侖的洪水朝著他們奔流而來。為了預防起見，他們早已撤離家園。 |
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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is gauging the current flow of the Mississippi River and when it reaches specified volume and velocity, the Mississippi River Commission may open the Morganza Spillway. |
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The action would potentially divert water from Baton Rouge and New Orleans, but it would also send a torrent down the Atchafalaya River at the expense of communities in that area, Gov. Bobby Jindal said. |
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美國陸軍工兵團正在測量密西西比河當前的流量，一旦達到特定的流量與速度，密西西比河委員會就可能開放摩根薩洩洪道。這項舉動可望轉移湧向巴頓魯治與紐奧良的大水，但也可能造成一股洪流衝入阿契法拉雅河，犧牲該地區的社區，州長鮑比．金朵這麼說。 |
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The governor suggested residents in southeastern Louisiana evacuate their homes as a precaution in advance of any official notification. |
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州長建議路易斯安那州東南部的居民，在官方發布正式通知之前先撤離家園以策安全。 |
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Jindal said that state officials may need several days after making the decision on the Morganza Spillway to notify residents. |
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金朵表示，州政府官員決定是否開放摩根薩洩洪道之後，可能需要幾天的時間才能通知居民。 |
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Meanwhile, the Army Corps of Engineers studied several possible Mississippi River scenarios, depending on whether the spillway is closed, open or partially open. |
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在此同時，陸軍工兵團研究了密西西比河的好幾種可能狀況，端視洩洪道關閉、開放或部分開放。 |
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The Mississippi could be closed to ships at the port of New Orleans as early as Monday morning, according to a U.S. Coast Guard spokesman. |
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密西西比河最早可能在週一上午對紐奧良港的船隻封閉河道，美國海岸巡防隊發言人表示。 |
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Floodwaters have covered about three million acres of farmland across the South and lower Midwest, washing away what could have been a profitable year for corn, wheat, rice and cotton, agriculture officials said Thursday. |
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洪水在南部與下中西部淹沒了約三百萬英畝的農地，沖毀了今年原本可望豐收的玉米、小麥、稻米與棉花等作物，農業官員於週四表示。 |
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The Farm Bureau estimated that damage to Ankansas' state agriculture business could top more than $500 million as more than one million acres of cropland are inundated. |
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農業局估計阿肯色州的農業損失可能超過五億美元，因為該州遭到淹沒的農田面積超過一百萬英畝。 |
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