The 2001 World Trade Center disaster - summary and evaluation of experiences

Objectives To collect and analyse data from deaths and injuries, and from evaluation of the responses by medical services and by fire-, rescue-, and police services one year after the terror attack on World Trade Center. Methodology Epidemiologic data were collected from all involved agencies and analysed. The authors' personal experience from working at the scene during the event and several other personal testimonies were also included in this analysis. Results Totally 2.762 death certificates were issued by the state of New York for victims of the terror attack. 1.361 (49.9%) of these were issued for victims whose remains could not be identified. All but nine of these died at the day of the attack. 77% of the victims were male, medium age 39 years. Of the dead were 342 fire fighters and paramedics and 60 police officers. A total of 1.103 patients were treated during the first 48 days in five key-hospitals receiving the majority of the injured. 29% of these were rescue workers. 66% of the injured were male, average 39 years. The most common injuries were respiratory impairment (49%) and ocular affection (26%), many severe. The most common trauma was lacerations (14%) and sprains (14%). Of those administered to hospital, 19% had trauma and 19% burns. Head injuries were registered in 6% and crush injuries in 4%. With regard to response from involved agencies, communication failure was the most common and difficulties in command operations and scene control were also prevalent. Conclusions The difficulties encountered were very similar to those commonly seen in major accidents or disasters, although on a great scale. Response plans have to be critically reviewed based on experiences from this and other events, in order to pre-empt difficulties such as here described in future responses to major urban accidents and disasters.