Casualties of the September 11 attacks

The September 11 attacks were very serious terrorist attacks. Many people died when airplanes crashed into buildings. This included both ordinary people and some New York City Fire Department and New York Fire Patrol members. People from many countries lost loved ones.

The biggest damage happened in New York City at the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. The attacks were a sad and important event that many remember.

Evacuation

Many tall buildings in the United States were not built to have everyone leave during an emergency. After a similar event in 1993, some changes were made to buildings and plans for leaving.

Both towers had three stairwells in the center. On some floors, the stairwells connected through hallways. The stairwells were very narrow.

After the attacks, some people thought many thousands might have been hurt. Estimates of how many people were in the Twin Towers that morning range between 14,000 and 19,000. Most deaths in the Twin Towers happened on floors that were blocked by the planes. People who survived said that many stayed behind to wait for more information or to do things like collect items or call family members. Many also stopped during their escape to rest or because the stairs were crowded.

North Tower

Right after the first plane hit, an order was given to leave the North Tower, but only people below the 92nd floor could follow it. The towers were not built for everyone to leave at once, and each had only three stairwells. For anyone above the 91st floor, it was impossible to escape. Emergency workers arrived quickly and helped with the evacuation.

South Tower

In the South Tower, many people knew something serious had happened when they heard and saw the first plane hit the North Tower. Because it was not yet clear that a terrorist attack was happening, the Port Authority did not order everyone to leave right away. Some people chose to leave on their own, while others stayed because they were told to stay in their offices. Later, officials told workers to leave, and many did.

Pentagon

Since the Pentagon was struck after the World Trade Center, many who worked there did not think the attack would happen there.

World Trade Center Hotel

Main article: Marriott World Trade Center

During the evacuations of the two larger towers, the hotel was used as a way for about 1,000 people to leave. Guests and others were guided by hotel staff to exit the building.

Surrounding area

Main articles: Rescue and recovery effort after the September 11 attacks and Maritime response following the September 11 attacks

After both towers were struck, the order to leave spread to most tall buildings in Lower Manhattan and nearby areas. People were told to leave through underground shopping areas and onto streets. Boats and ferries helped many people leave Lower Manhattan.

Disabled individuals

Survivors

In the North Tower, no one survived where the plane hit or close to it. The highest floor with survivors was floor 91. About 15 people on floor 22 or lower survived by escaping or being rescued.

At least 42 people escaped from the area where the plane hit the South Tower. Most used a single staircase that stayed open. Some people were told to wait for help instead of using it. A few people survived because the elevator brakes stopped working.

Although few people survived where the planes hit, some may have started to leave but couldn’t get down before the building fell. Some survivors mentioned coworkers who were trapped.

Two of the 42 survivors were babies who were not born yet when the attacks happened — their mothers were pregnant with them.

One survivor, Doris Torres, later died from her injuries after escaping from the 78th floor.

After collapses

After the buildings collapsed, only a few people escaped from the rubble. Twelve firefighters and three police officers made it out alive. Sixteen people inside the North Tower survived by using a central staircase. Four people between the two towers also survived. Only one person inside the South Tower when it collapsed survived.

The last survivor found in the rubble of the North Tower was Genelle Guzman-McMillan. She was found 27 hours after the building fell. She and another worker, Pasquale Buzzelli, were the only two from their group to survive.

Some people survived the collapse but were trapped under the rubble and couldn’t be rescued in time.

Survivor advocacy

Main articles: Health effects arising from the September 11 attacks and World Trade Center Health Program

Many police officers, firefighters, and others who helped after the attacks have faced health problems, including breathing issues, mental health challenges, stomach problems, and cancer. In 2015, a law was passed to provide health care for these responders and extend the time for victims to receive compensation.

Fatalities

Many people died as a result of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the collapse of the buildings. This included civilians, members of the New York City Fire Department, and law enforcement officers.

Other people died at the Pentagon and aboard the four planes, including American Airlines Flight 11, United Airlines Flight 175, American Airlines Flight 77, and United Airlines Flight 93.

After the attacks, there was a lot of toxic dust and debris that caused health problems for many people.

Forensic identification

After the attacks, many people were not found whole because of the debris. Only a few complete bodies were found, but scientists collected small pieces of bone and tissue. They used DNA testing to try to match these pieces to families. This was hard because the heat and time in the rubble damaged the DNA.

For many years, scientists have worked to identify more victims. By 2025, they identified more than 1,600 people, but many families still wait for answers. Each identification is done carefully, respecting the wishes of families.