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CNN Live Today

America Under Attack: Five Firefighters Found Alive and Pulled from the Wreckage of the Twin Towers

Aired September 13, 2001 - 13:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LOU WATERS, CNN ANCHOR: We've just received some astonishing news from Martin Savidge, who is at the scene of the rescue and recovery effort in lower Manhattan: Five rescue workers have been found in the wreckage of the twin towers. They are all alive.

Martin Savidge, are you with us?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Lou. I can hear you.

Can you see and hear me?

WATERS: I can.

Five found alive?

SAVIDGE: That's correct.

Let me tell you, they have been hoping for miracles here as they've been digging for two days and it appears that's exactly what has happened.

According to rescue workers that have been coming out, as well as medical personnel, five firefighter have now been found alive. This is the remarkable circumstances under which that discovery was made. They were making an all-out attempt to find survivors today removing debris. They found a vehicle, an SUV that had been buried under tons of debris. When they cleared the debris away they opened the door and much to their amazement two of those firefighters were able to get out on their own; the other three are said to also be all right. They were taken out. All five are alive and well.

It is a most -- it is a most remarkable discovery, and you can imagine the sense of elation it has sent through those that are searching for further survivors. Again, the five were inside an SUV that apparently become entrapped when the buildings came down. They were found two days later, alive -- Lou.

WATERS: That's astonishing.

Martin, was there any indication that there was still life beneath the rubble, or was this just an occasional discovery?

SAVIDGE: Well, we have noticed today, first of all, it is an all-out effort that is going on. The activity here, as far as number of volunteers that have been parading, literally in columns, is well over a thousand.

We know that this is the big push day, they realize that time is running short. Weather's also a problem. They know it's going to rain tonight. They are making preparations for that, covering the equipment. They want to get any of the survivors out that can be found today if at all possible.

They also realize that if there are survivors to be found they're probably going to be found underground. That's apparently was the case. The SUV was discovered, and inside the prayers of at least five families were answered.

WATERS: Where are we now in the rescue and recovery operation, Martin? Unlike Oklahoma City, where we could see the inexorable damage and the horror of the rescue and recover effort, we're not able to see it here, so we have to depend on people like you to describe it to us.

SAVIDGE: Well, essentially what is going on right now, I'm beside the west side highway here, it is one of the main corridors in for the emergency equipment, all day long it has been bumper to bumper with emergency equipment, with earth moving trucks, with tractor trailers, will all sorts of equipment that is vitally needed.

The sidewalks, in the meantime, have been the avenues in for the hundreds of firefighters, the ironworkers that have been coming in that are working to cut away the tons of steel that are overlying the areas where they believe that there are survivors. There were reports this morning still of cellular telephone calls coming in from people who may be down below. They are trying to ascertain where they are.

But keep in mind, the 110 stories that were the twin towers have now been reduced to a rubble pile that measured about 100 feet. It's very unstable. There are firefighter that are working with harnesses, ropes and ladders, as well as other experts trying to get in there and not shift the pile. At the same time, when they do move it, in some respects, there have been steam pipes that have been ruptured. They know there's a danger, Lou.

WATERS: All right, Marty Savidge in Manhattan.

We will be getting back to you, of course.

The headline is: five New York rescue workers found alive inside an SUV buried beneath the rubble of the twin towers of the World Trade Center.

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