韩国担心辐射雨 学校停课

Showers on the Korean peninsula prompted some schools to close Thursday. Many parents were worried about exposing children to "radioactive rain." They were not reassured by South Korean authorities, who said there is no risk to children, even if some radioactive particles might be detected in rain water.

星期四韩国普遍降雨导致一些学校停课。很多家长担心孩子淋到含有放射性物质的雨水。韩国当局表示，即便雨水中可能有一些放射性物质，也不会对人体构成威胁。尽管如此，人们仍然对核辐射深感担忧。

Fears about radiation in rain prompted classes to be canceled at some schools in South Korea.

韩国一些学校因担心雨水中含有放射性微尘而宣布停课。

In Gyeonggi province, 125 kindergartens and elementary schools gave students the day off.

位于韩国西北部的京畿道，125个幼儿园和小学让孩子们放假一天。

A spokesman for the provincial education office, Cho Byung-lae, says all institutions there were asked to curtail outdoor activities, but it was left up to school principals to decide whether to cancel instruction.

京畿道教育厅发一位言人说，已经通知了当地所有教育机构都要限制户外活动，但是否停课，由各校校长自行决定。

Cho says they did not decide to close schools because of radiation, calling that a rather remote risk. But, he explains because there was such strong concern expressed by many parents, school authorities decided to relieve their anxiety.

这位发言人说，他们没有因放射性微尘的问题而决定关闭学校，因为辐射风险很小。不过他解释说，因为家长表达了强烈的关切，因此校方决定减轻家长的担忧。

In Seoul, educators refused to cancel classes and appealed for calm. However, some parents in the capital say they did not send their children to school because of the risk of radiation in the rain.

首尔的教育部门负责人拒绝宣布让学校停课并呼吁保持镇静。然而首都地区的一些家长表示他们没有送孩子上学是因为担心雨水中含有放射性物质。

Other schools in the country dismissed class early or halted outdoor activities, including sporting events.

韩国其它地方的学校提前放学，取消了包括体育运动在内的各项户外活动。