Those who did try to return calls found the lines busy (just in case people think I mean deliberately jammed), leading to critical communication lags amid a constantly shifting situation.

有些人想打电话回去的，但线路总是忙音(这让人认为是故意把线给卡了)，形势瞬息万变的时刻，通信偏偏拖慢了后腿。

youdao

Larson said that the Middle East situation is fairly fragile and stands at a critical moment.

拉森说，中东局势十分脆弱，正处于一个关键时刻。

youdao

People have been swimming ashore and hiding, and that is a critical, chaotic situation right now.

人们拼命向岸边靠近，到处躲藏，形势非常危急，局面相当混乱。

youdao

An MSF study at the camp last November revealed a critical nutrition situation, with mortality rates above the emergency threshold for children under two years old.

BBC: Mali refugees endure 'appalling' Mauritania camp

But a mature professional assess a situation using data and critical thinking, not trending-topic watching.

FORBES: Why Do People Still Work At Yahoo!?

"It's been a very, very serious and critical situation, " said John David, a West Virginia University Institute of Technology professor and volunteer with the South Appalachian Labor School who has been working in Fayette County.

CNN: July 7, 2012 -- Updated 0222 GMT (1022 HKT)