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CNN Saturday Morning News

`Ground Zero' has Become, Simply, `The Ruins'

Aired September 22, 2001 - 09:07   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Talking about the recovery effort and the rescue effort, here's Michael Okwu down in the streets of Manhattan with us now. Michael, good morning to you.

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.

You know, we call this area ground zero, and then days after the attack, some people started referring to it as ground hero, in obvious reference to many of the rescue workers who continue to toil at the site.

And when you talk to pedestrians here at street level, so many more of them are simply referring to it as "the ruins." Perhaps it's an indication of the increasing resignation behind me. At this point, as the number of the missing continues to rise, some level of hope continues to diminish. that number stands right now at 6,333. They are missing and presumed dead, of course.

Officials here are increasingly sensitive about the area around ground zero. They have moved us some blocks north of where we used to be. It's, I think, indication that this, of course, is a crime scene, an investigation scene. And perhaps there's some sensitivity about the fact that there is gold and silver buried underneath the rubble as well. This was gold and silver that was stored by -- for individual companies and individual investors, in excess of some $253 million.

They have moved in some cranes overnight. They were able to remove some of the debris that was -- that did not enable them to have heavy material there. They've moved in some cranes, and they're continuing the heavy lifting there. But as each day passes, it becomes less and less optimistic, I think, that you will find anyone in that rubble alive.

New York City's police commissioner told CNN that they did find the body of John O'Neill, who was an FBI agent who specialized in terrorism. He was on his first or second day as the new security of the World Trade Center. And he was killed when he was going over to help -- trying to help some people at Tower Number Two.

Now, the rescue workers continue working ceaselessly, on 12-hour shifts on, 12-hour shifts off. There are some firefighters who left moments ago, and according to some of the people there, the morale is very, very low -- Bill. HEMMER: Michael, I thought it was quite interesting to be out, outside of the World Trade Center facility for the better part of a week throughout the week, and one notes a -- can note a true difference in attitude. When workers change shifts and come out and you ask them how they're doing, most of the time you get a shrug and an "OK." But when I was inside talking with the workers, the attitude was amazing. There was pep in the step, and there was enthusiasm, and they were very gung-ho and gusto about finishing that job.

I'm curious to know about your own perception, about what you're getting and gathering from people that come out.

OKWU: Bill, you are right on. It's a little harder right now to be right next to those rescue workers. We've been moved slightly away from the site. But what I can tell you from being here for the better part of a week, and also being able to saunter over there a little moment ago, is the fact that the rescue workers, when they come in here, they have this, they have this gung-ho attitude. Sometimes their arms are around each other. There are lots of smiles. There's some back-slapping.

They get into the site, and they're very, very focused. You can see that from some of the pictures.

And they're working under some very treacherous situations. There's twisted steel and metal, and when it gets wet, as it did yesterday, they can fall, and they can slip. And when it's not wet, when it's not raining, when it's hot, sometimes the soles of their boots actually melt, as one rescue worker was telling me.

But then after all of this, when they come back, they've been dealing in the darkness and the soot and in the grime, and the real human toll takes its toll on them. They leave, oftentimes very resigned, you're absolutely right, Bill. It's interesting to watch them over the course of 12 hours go from hopefulness to resignation.

HEMMER: The operation continues. Another note, just going in there yesterday through the maze of construction workers and crews and rescue workers, our crew was virtually silent, almost as if we were walking into an area that was some sort of a funeral home or something. And it struck us all. We were coming past one area where there's a fire truck, a long hook and ladder that was completely smashed and demolished, still sitting on the side of the road. And another reminder of the devastation from 11 days ago.

Michael, thanks. We'll be back in touch throughout the morning.

The other thing to point out, the thing that we are seeing above ground is just that, the debris that is above ground. There is still, we are told, significant amounts below ground too, that again must be handled throughout the week and the coming days. And the governor and the mayor both saying it could take at least six months before that debris is entirely cleared up.

It is an amazing sight down there, one that leaves you without words; without the right words, anyway. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com