
Residents in the U.S. state of Colorado are battling against a very troublesome plant. Tumbleweed has been blocking roads, canals and even trapping people inside their homes. The plants have been invading the drought-stricken state since last month.
Tumbleweed forms when plants mature and dry, and then roll away in the wind.
(Resident)
"We plowed weeds with road graders, trucks, loaders. The trucks ... it'll come over the cab and you can't see anything."
Authorities have been receiving calls for help. Residents say tumbleweeds have piled up in front of their homes, barricading them inside. Motorists are also under siege as the dried plants block roads and create dangerous driving conditions. Authorities have spent tens of thousands of dollars trying to get rid of the weeds, as a bigger concern is the spread of wildfires.
◆battle against ... ~に立ち向かう
◆troublesome やっかいな
◆tumbleweed 回転草
◆trap 閉じ込める
◆invade 押し寄せる、襲う
◆drought-stricken 干ばつに見舞われた
◆plow (雪かきなどを)する
◆road grader 地ならし機
◆loader フロントローダー
◆cab 運転席
◆call for help援助要請
◆be under siege 包囲されている