Example 1: Car thief caught trapped in target vehicle
Example 2: Major earthquake strikes the central region
(Headline) Major earthquake strikes the central region
(Lead) A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the central region of the country early this morning, causing widespread damage and leaving at least 100 people injured.
(Body) The earthquake, which occurred at 4:37 am local time, was centered approximately 20 miles southwest of the city of X. It was felt as far as 200 miles away, with reports of shaking and structural damage in several nearby towns and cities.
According to the National Earthquake Information Center, the quake was followed by several aftershocks, the largest of which had a magnitude of 5.4.
The extent of the damage is still being assessed, but local authorities have reported significant damage to buildings and infrastructure, including collapsed bridges and roads. Power and telecommunications are also reported to be disrupted in some areas.
The local hospital has treated at least 100 people for injuries ranging from minor cuts and bruises to broken bones. Emergency services are working to evacuate residents from damaged buildings and provide assistance to those affected by the earthquake.
(Conclusion) It is not yet clear what caused the earthquake or how long the recovery process will take. Officials are urging residents to remain calm and follow any evacuation or safety instructions issued by emergency services. The government has also announced that it will be providing financial assistance to those affected by the earthquake.
Example 3:
Village under water
When she should have been asleep in bed last night in Thropford, Ann Milton was kneedeep in water in her front room.
She had spent the night moving her possessions to the safety of the upper floor of her home. The water had been creeping under her front door since 10pm, but as the clock struck 4am she felt the water of the flooded River Taw start to seep over the tops of her wellington boots. At that point she gave up.
“I’m in a bit of a daze,” she said wearily. “I haven’t slept for 26 hours. This is our third flood in 10 months. I don’t think I can take any more!” Ann went to join her neighbours in the shelter of the village hall.
Tom Wilkins, who has lived in the village all his life, said that he had never known anything like it. “I thought the floods of last Christmas were bad enough,” he said, “but last night the water came higher than it ever has before.” He said that he did not know how he was going to face the months of drying out his home.
Of the 15 families washed out of their homes, 6 have children under 5 years old.
“This is a dangerous time for the very young and the very old,” said Dr. Hazel Bryan, the local GP. She went on to say that many diseases are water borne and that muddy river water that has flowed along streets and mingled with water from drains and sewers is particularly dangerous. She warned, “People should boil all their drinking water, or only use bottled water.”
Another casualty has been the village school. The school caters for children under 11 years from the surrounding area. They still do not know the extent of the damage, but it is expected that the school will be closed for at least 2 months.
Reverend Thomas, whose church, St. Peter’s, is on the highest point in the village, has opened up the church hall as a refuge. Camp beds are being set up at one end and a temporary schoolroom at the other. Rev. Thomas and his wife, Sally, are kept busy in the kitchen area making hot drinks.
“I’m only glad we are able to help,” said Sally. She added that everyone was trying to stay cheerful, but for some, the horror of it all had not really sunk in yet. “Once the waters recede and people go back to their homes and they see the mess the muddy river water has left behind, that’s when the real work will start. That’s when us lucky ones will need to give all the support we can.”
Example 4:
Six dead as storms sweep country
The worst storm for a decade caused widespread chaos to road and rail, killed six and left thousands without shelter last night. Many are now asking if Britain is paying the price of unchecked global warming.
Torrential rain and winds of up to 90 mph uprooted trees, blocked roads and cut electricity supplies across southern England and Wales.
The coast of West Sussex was hit twice within 48 hours when a twister devastated parts of Bognor Regis and a tornado ripped through a caravan park in Selsey. Further along the coast thousands of ferry passengers were stranded in mid-channel when vessels were unable to dock at Dover.
Last night a tanker started leaking dangerous chemicals into the English Channel when the Italian ship Levoli Sun was overcome by high seas. The crew was airlifted to safety.
Shops, banks and schools were closed as people failed to get into work. A spokesman for the Environment Agency announced, “We have issued 25 severe flood warnings across Wales and southern England.” He went on to say that dozens of rivers had already burst their banks, making it necessary for lifeboats to be sent to rescue people from their flooded homes 30 miles inland.
In Yorkshire, the first blizzards of the winter coincided with flash floods. The severe weather this week comes at the end of a month of record rainfall and an exceptionally wet September. It is the recipe for disastrous flooding which scientists predicted two years ago when studying the possible effects of global warming on Britain.
Yesterday Mary Hodge, head of the UK Climate Programme, warned, “These events should be a wake-up call for everyone in Britain to consider how we are going to cope with climate change.”
Jenny Smith, from the Weather Centre, said, “We have had a 0.6 degree Celsius rise in temperature in the last century, and extreme events have now started to happen with greater frequency. How are we going to cope when it goes up 2 degrees Celsius?”
The government, which is becoming increasingly concerned at the number of flooded properties, is expected to issue a ban on new building on floodplains.
The spokesman for the Environment Agency said, “No new building should happen on floodplains.” He added that any developer building new homes should also be responsible for building flood defences.