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CNN Live Event/Special

America Under Attack: Look at Firefighters Lost in Trade Center Terrorism

Aired September 12, 2001 - 06:53   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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: And reports this morning, Vince, that rescuers are hearing the voices of people who are trapped underneath the rubble. They have a sense that there are people alive and reports on New York radio of people inside the rubble, trapped and talking to rescuers, talking to family members on their cell phones as they wait and wonder if rescue will come in time.

Fires are still burning in that rubble as we speak. You know, you talk about what the situation is on the ground, and you get a sense of people suffering in the tragedy and the panic yesterday.

CNN's Deborah Feyerick takes a look at the victims, and in particular the firefighters lost.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Many of the 300 firefighters missing and feared dead were believed to be inside the World Trade Center when it collapsed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't find anybody from five rescues and seven squads, and it's just a devastating thing. I don't know -- well, the fire department will recover, but I don't know how.

FEYERICK: Arriving first on scene, they ran into the burning towers, carrying hoses and trying to get people to safety.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The horror of it all is all of the first alarm, the second alarm, third alarm and fifth alarm companies, they were all in there. And there -- a lot companies are wiped out from what I understand.

FEYERICK: Fire engines were crushed, a strategic command center silenced, and several of the highest-ranking fire officials buried beneath tons of dust and steel.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know what to say. We lost people that have given over 40 years.

FEYERICK: Those who got out in time went back, injuries and all, to search for their friends. Others off duty grabbed their gear and raced to help dig out any possible survivors. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My brother works on the 91st floor -- my brother, and he is unaccounted for at this time. So I'm just, you know, doing a lot of praying.

FEYERICK: Praying amidst an unnatural silence.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's probably what amazed me the most, there was no people to be seen. Even the dogs couldn't find people.

FEYERICK: At fire houses in Manhattan, there were flowers and mourning as everyone waited, holding out hope.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They should have been here already. Their rig is not back. They're not back. They should have been back.

FEYERICK: More than 30 police officers also died. Choking back tears, several firefighters summed up the catastrophe.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: These are your buddies.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We lost a lot of friends today, a lot of friends.

FEYERICK: A loss that will be shared by all New Yorkers.

Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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