時事新聞:韓國遭遇百年一遇旱災
Sizzling hot summer weather has arrived in South Korea, but the early summer rains have yet to come. According to the Korea Metrological Administration, rainfall since the beginning of May has been the lowest since 1908.
韓國現在已酷暑難當，但初夏的梅雨卻沒有如約而至。據韓國氣象廳(Korea Metrological Administration)說，韓國今年5月初以來的降雨量創下1908年以來的同期最低水平。The prolonged dry spell has prompted the government to set up a disaster relief center to coordinate responses and set aside 7 billion won for drought-relief efforts.
這場曠日持久的乾旱促使韓國政府成立了救災中心來協調各種應對行動，政府還爲抗旱撥款70億韓圓。Provincial governments in many parts of the country have been drilling wells and supplying residents with drinking and agricultural water. As of Tuesday, about 80% of the country was rated at the most extreme drought level.
韓國很多地方政府一直在打井，併爲當地居民供應飲用水和農業用水。截至週二，韓國全國約有80%的地方被認爲達到了最高旱災等級。
"Since May, the worst drought in a century has persisted and heat wave warnings have been sent out as well. Many people, including farmers, are having difficulties" said Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, "The government is worried about possible fallout, such as price hikes for produce and reduced water supply."
韓國國務總理金口植(Kim Hwang-sik)在週二的內閣會議上說，自5月以來，韓國遭遇了百年一遇的旱災，有關部門不斷髮出熱浪警告，包括農民在內的很多人都遭遇了困難。他說，旱情可能導致農產品價格上漲和供水量減少等情況出現，政府對此感到擔心。After the meeting, Mr. Kim visited one of the hardest hit regions in his second such visit less than a week. Last Thursday he visited Hongseong, a mid-western farming city, where rainfall since May is only about 11% that of last year. Reservoirs have also dried up the city's water reserves are less than 15%, causing concern for the region's farmers.
韓國內閣會議結束後，金口植前往旱情最嚴重的一個地區進行考察，這是不到一週時間裏他的第二次考察旱情。上週四，金口植考察了韓國中西部農業城市洪城郡(Hongseong)，那裏的降雨量今年5月以來僅爲去年同期的11%左右。該市的水庫均已乾涸，儲水量不足正常水平的15%，當地農民的狀況令人擔憂。Seoul's rainfall from May 1 to June 24 was 10.6 mm, only around 7% of the total in the same period last year. The national average was 68.3 mm, compared to 233.8 mm last year.
5月1日至6月24日期間，首爾的降雨量爲10.6毫米，僅爲去年同期降雨量的7%左右。韓國全國平均降雨量爲68.3毫米，而去年同期則爲233.8毫米。The weather agency attributes the severe drought to a persistent high pressure system over the eastern part of the country. It forecasts rain this weekend, but not enough to fully soak parched lands.
韓國氣象廳將這次嚴重乾旱歸因於韓國東部地區上空出現的持續高壓系統。氣象廳預計，本週末韓國會有降雨，但雨量不足以充分緩解旱情。The northern part of the peninsula is also suffering from extreme conditions.
位於朝鮮半島北半部的朝鮮目前也遭受着極端天氣帶來的災害。North Korea's state media has issued a series of reports about water shortages. In a recent dispatch, the Korea Central News Agency reported: "Crops have withered in the country's west coastal area and the water level has lowered in rivers and reservoirs," adding that rice paddies have been affected by "the devastating drought."
朝鮮國家媒體接連刊載了數篇有關水資源短缺的報道。朝鮮中央通訊社(Korea Central News Agency)前不久發表快訊說，朝鮮西部沿海地區的莊稼已經枯萎，江河和水庫水位下降，還說稻田也已受到災難性旱災的影響。
