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SEPTEMBER
9TH, 2001
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TwinTowers |
In a tragic and spectacular explosion that engulfed lower Manhattan in thick smoke and gray powder debris, two airplanes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City at around 9 a.m. EST. The first plane was an American Airlines commercial jet bound for the West Coast; the second United flight 175 en route to Los Angeles. Both planes were hijacked shortly after takeoff from Boston's Logan airport and flown off-course to New York.
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The planes were loaded with fuel for transcontinental flights, and that jet fuel ignited a hellish blaze that sent temperatures at the point of impact soaring to an estimated 2000 degrees F. Within an hour, the intense heat caused the seemingly invincible steel beams of the towers to melt like cotton candy. At 10 a.m. EST, the southern tower of the World Trade Center was enveloped in smoke after a second, gigantic explosion, and part of that tower collapsed and was destroyed. About twenty minutes later, the northern tower imploded. At 5 p.m. EST, weakened by the impact and heat of nearby explosions, building seven of the World Trade complex collapsed.
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Rescue officials estimate between 100 and 800 people
died inside the Pentagon;
The four hijacked planes-turned-bombs between them carried 266 people;
New York City officials reported that 265 firefighters and 85 police
officers were missing in the wreckage of the World Trade Center, and
Speculation over the numbers that had died in the landmark office towers
ran in the thousands, as rescuers worked feverishly to free survivors
trapped beneath the rubble.
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In Washington, the Pentagon was evacuated after another commercial airline crashed into the building. A short time later, part of the building collapsed. A fire was also reported on the Mall. The White House, the Capitol and other government buildings were also evacuated, and Washington became a ghost town. If the terrorists sought to undermine the conduct of government, they succeeded at least for the day.
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LUCANONLINE
CONDEMNS THIS ACT OF TERRORISM
AND SYMPATHIZES WITH THE FAMILIES
OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE PERISHED
