January 11, 2005

This is a rush transcript. This copy may not be in its final form and may be dated.

Transcript

CHRISTINA PARK, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Following heavy rains, a wash of mud thunders toward a California coastal community. Following a collision of trains a gas leak leaves some South Carolinians gasping for air. And following a ban on smoking, Italians have to step out if they want to light up. Hello and welcome to CNN Student News, I'm Christina Park.

First Up: Wild West

CHRISTINA PARK, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: A worst-case scenario for many California residents. Fears that continuous rains in the region would result in flooding and mudslides became terrible realities yesterday when the ground slipped beneath a community near Los Angeles. Yesterday, you saw how the same storms virtually whited out higher elevations. Now Peter Viles trudges through their terrible effects on areas closer to sea level.

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PETER VILES, CNN REPORTER: On the fifth day of heavy rains in Southern California, a massive mudslide in La Conchita. Initial estimates from the scene, at least one person is dead, at least 15 homes are damaged. Earlier, and further south, a rescue mission. This man was swept two miles, lost his car, but escaped with his life. After rescue workers actually followed him through those floodwaters.

CAPT. MIKE YULE, SANTA FE SPRINGS FIRE DEPARTMENT: We had people that were actually running the river bank and keeping an eye on him. Captain McGally on engine 81 and myself on truck 811 went down one of the main streets and set up at the bridge. We had visual with him the whole time and set up the rope systems to get him out of the water. VILES: The heavy rain caused rock and mud slides throughout the region. At this mobile home park north of Los Angeles, a river formed almost overnight and threatened dozens of homes. Workers used heavy equipment to try to dig a trench to channel the flood waters and save the homes. At least five homes were lost, including this man's.

FLOOD VICTIM: Two minutes ago, less than two minutes ago it fell, yesterday I had two sheds and a half pipe. This is two days ago, this is two minutes ago.

VILES: Slick roads and mud slides caused hundreds of traffic accidents, stranding cars as far south as Temecula, near San Diego and proving deadly in Malibu. This vehicle hit a patch of mud and skidded off the Pacific Coast Highway right into the Pacific Ocean. Four passengers were rescued, one was killed. A mudslide in the Hollywood Hills destroyed this home. Amazingly, there were no serious injuries, two children were rescued from the mud that destroyed the home. A two year old girl, however, was lost. Swept out of her mother's arms and killed just as rescue workers were trying to save the mother and child at this flooded intersection. Peter Viles, CNN Santa Clarita, California.

(end video)

Word to the Wise

CARL AZUZ, CNN REPORTER: A Word to the Wise...

Axis (noun): a straight line about which a body or geometric object rotates

source: www.dictionary.com

Degrees of Change

CHRISTINA PARK, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: It looks like the tremendous earthquake that triggered last month's tsunamis in southern Asia literally wobbled the earth's axis. Regardless of whether you felt it! Deanna Morawski has details on that and on some of its other geological effects.

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DEANNA MORAWSKI, CNN REPORTER: More than two weeks after the tsunami crashed ashore, scientists say the Earth is still vibrating from the massive 9.0 magnitude quake that caused it. Australian researchers say the planet's current vibration levels are at about a millimeter of vertical motion. That's down from an estimated 20 to 30 centimeters of motion right after the quake hit. While you can't feel the movement, it can be detected with scientific instruments. Meantime, U.S. scientists have said that the quake may have permanently accelerated the earth's rotation, shortening days by a fraction of a second. The quake is also believed to have shifted Indonesia's Sumatra Island and other nearby islands by as much as 60 feet.

MORAWSKI: But the geology behind the tragedy is hardly the focus in classrooms in Sri Lanka, where schools re-opened on Monday. Attendance was not high, but teachers hope that for those students who did show up, returning to something familiar would help them to readjust. For CNN Student News, I'm Deanna Morawski.

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Elements of Disaster

CHRISTINA PARK, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Officials in South Carolina have been working at the sight of a train wreck to turn deadly chlorine gas into liquid bleach. The gas leak occurred last week when a moving train hit a parked one, rupturing a tanker car containing the chlorine. The National Transportation Safety Board blames a switching mechanism that was in the wrong position for the accident. Nine people died from inhaling chlorine vapors. Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores the elements of a chemical disaster.

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DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN REPORTER: Early Thursday morning, Curtis Mitchell was managing the graveyard shift, and suddenly he was fighting the urge to breathe.

CURTIS MITCHELL, SHIFT MANAGER, AVONDALE MILLS: My eyes were burning sensationally and my throat was just pulling at me. I wanted to breathe but it was like you didn't want to breathe. You were trying to take breaths but you didn't want to take breaths because it hurt so bad.

GUPTA: Curtis, like many others in Graniteville, South Carolina were exposed to a cloud of chlorine gas. As a result, six of Curtis's textile plant co-workers were found dead. 240 other people were sickened and 5,400 townspeople were evacuated.

THOM BERRY, SOUTH CAROLINA DEPT. OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SPOKESMAN: Chlorine is an irritant. It is corrosive and as such it will be corrosive not only to the skin, but to the internal tissues, primarily the lungs, also the eyes, and the bronchiotubes. It has an immediate effect, and you will feel the impact within a matter of moments.

GUPTA: While chlorine's effects are immediately caustic, the ease of its detection may have kept the number of casualties relatively low. Chlorine gas has yellowish-green color. It has a pungent odor similar to bleach that you can't miss. And chlorine gas is heavier than air so it settles low to the ground.

GUPTA: Chlorine is used in a number of common activities, from making cleaning supplies to treating sewage and water. Such large scale chlorine contaminations are rare, but there are some ways to reduce its effects. If you can smell it you know it's around. Scent is the best detection. If you're in an exposed area, run far from it, preferably to higher ground because chlorine vapor will stay low to the ground. During the day, wind and sunlight can help break the deadly gas down. And finally, there's no known antidote to chlorine gas contamination.

GUPTA: The good news is that the chlorine has already begun to dissipate. Residents may be allowed to return to their homes as early as Wednesday. While health officials still work to clean and contain the area, they say the worst part may just be over. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Atlanta.

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Shoutout

CARL AZUZ, CNN REPORTER: Time for the Shoutout!

Which of the following symbols on the periodic table represents chlorine? If you think you know it, shout it out! Is it:

A) Cl

B) C

C) Ce

D) Co

You've got three seconds -- GO! Cl is for chlorine! This greenish-yellow gas can combine with almost all other elements. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout!

Non Fumare

CHRISTINA PARK, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: It's lights out in Italy's bars, restaurants and other public places. Smokers will have to step outside. The ban follows an apparent trend in Europe to curb the diseases caused by lighting up. But how will it go over in a country where 14 million people - about one-fourth of Italy's population - smoke? Andrew Carey sizes up the situation.

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ANDREW CAREY, CNN REPORTER: The early morning gasper, now strictly outdoors. For Italians used to their cigarette and espresso first thing it's all change.

MAN ON STREET: The decision has been made and we will have to comply, we are all going to smoke outside. It will probably mean that we won't go to restaurants so often any more.

CAREY: As from midnight Sunday smoking in enclosed public spaces such as bars, restaurants and offices is banned. Smokers flaunting the law face a possible fine of up to 360 dollars but it's proprietors that really have to watch out. They're being asked to police the ban and could be hit with a fine of over two and half thousand dollars for allowing smoking. A difficult task, say those at the sharp end.

MARIO GIACOMELLI, BARMAN: I would tell them not to smoke. I would not report them to police, but I would call my supervisor.

CAREY: But for one pair of tourists from Ireland at least the new law is nothing out of the ordinary.

MAN ON STREET: Well at home it's the same so we are used to it.

CAREY: Ireland banned smoking in public places last March. Over half of smokers who've subsequently quit there say the ban helped them do it. Ireland's pubs have been less impressed though, with publicans reporting average takings down up to 25% since the ban came into force. Italy's government says it wants to tackle the 90-thousand people it says die of smoking related diseases each year. But it's not won universal support even within the government. One cabinet minister told an Italian newspaper the restrictions were too severe... adding it was his sacred right to smoke. He'll just have to move outside, like all the rest. Andrew Carey, CNN London.

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Before We Go

CHRISTINA PARK, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: When you're the king of rock 'n' roll, people from all countries can't help falling in love with you. So it's not too much to believe that a bunch of Japanese fans got all shook up one night celebrating Elvis Presley's 70th birthday. And taking their Jailhouse Rock to a Tokyo performance hall. Hound dogs and their latest flames were all on hand to pay tribute to their favorite teddy bear.

Goodbye

CHRISTINA PARK, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: And that's it for this big hunk o' CNN Student News! I'm Christina Park.