密西西比河水位达到有史以来第二高点

U.S. weather forecasters say the Mississippi River has risen to its second-highest level ever in the southern state of Tennessee, after unleashing major flooding in low-lying areas. Thousands of residents in several states have evacuated their homes along the Mississippi River as flooding - triggered by rain and melting snow -- has reached levels not seen in decades.

National Weather Service spokesman Christopher Vaccaro told VOA that the river surged above 14.5 meters Tuesday near Memphis - Tennessee's largest city. He said the waterway is projected to continue rising to More than 14.6 meters later in the would be just short of the river's record crest of 14.8 meters more than 70 years ago. Vaccaro says the river is expected to hold steady at this level through Wednesday before gradually receding beginning on Thursday. President Barack Obama declared a major disaster in Tennessee on Monday, ordering federal aid to help state and local recovery efforts in the area. The state was also struck by severe storms and tornadoes last month.美国气象预报部门说，密西西比河在美国南部的田纳西州的水位上升到有史以来第二高点。此前，田纳西的低洼地区爆发严重洪水。随着大雨和积雪融化引发的洪水达到几十年未见的历史高位，在美国几个州里，家住密西西比河沿岸的数以千计的居民已经撤离。

美国国家气象局发言人克里斯托弗.瓦卡罗对美国之音说，星期二，密西西比河在田纳西州最大城市孟菲斯附近的水位超过14.5米。他说，这条河的水位预计将在当天晚些时候继续上升至14.6米以上。这一数字仅仅低于70多年前14.8米高的水位纪录。瓦卡罗对说，密西西比河预计星期三会稳定保持在这一水位，然后在星期四开始逐渐减退。奥巴马总统星期一宣布田纳西为重灾区，并下令发放联邦救援物资以帮助田纳西和该地区地方政府进行灾后恢复的努力。田纳西州上个月还遭到强烈的风暴和龙卷风的袭击。