Huge death toll feared after terrorist attacks in US
( 2001-09-12 10:49 ) (7 )

The United States faced the probability of a huge toll from Tuesday's terrorist attacks, after authorities spoke of hundreds of dead in New York and Washington.

The New York city firefighters' union said at least 200 of its members were feared to have been killed as they tried to evacuate injured people from the twin towers of the World Trade Center.

In Washington, US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said "many dozens of people" aboard a hijacked airliner must have died when the plane slammed into the Pentagon.

The World Trade Center towers collapsed about an hour after two other hijacked planes flew into them after the start of the working day. About 40,000 people were thought to work in the Center.

A union spokesman quoted by NY1 television said "whole companies (of firefighters) have disappeared" as they strove to extricate the injured before the towers fell.

Earlier in the day, Jim Moran, a Democratic member of the US House of Representatives, told Fox television that authorities were expecting a death toll of 10,000 in New York alone.

But New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani told a news conference:"We don't want to speculate on that, we won't know until tomorrow."

He added, however, that "the number of casualties will be more than any of us can bear ultimately."

More than 10 hours after the attacks, the only firm and final figures had been issued by the two airlines which lost four passenger jets carrying a combined total of 266 passengers and crew.

United Airlines said its Flight UA 175, a Boeing 767 aircraft, crashed after leaving Boston for Los Angeles. The plane, carrying 56 passengers, two pilots and seven flight attendants, is believed to have smashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center shortly before 9:00 am (1300 GMT).

Another United flight, number UA 93, a Boeing 757 aircraft with 38 passengers, two pilots and five flight attendants aboard, crashed near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, after leaving Newark, New Jersey, for San Francisco.

American Airlines said it lost its Flight 11, a Boeing 767 en route from Boston to Los Angeles with 81 passengers, nine flight attendants and two pilots. CNBC television said that flight hit the World Trade Center's south tower.

American Airlines Flight 77, a Boeing 757 operating from Washington Dulles to Los Angeles with 58 passengers, four flight attendants and two pilots, was reported to have hit the Pentagon.

Leonard Bakalchuk, director of emergency services at New York's St Vincent's hospital, one of those closest to the World Trade Center, said early evening that 319 injured were being treated for smoke inhalation, burns and laceration from falling debris.

They included three people who he thought had died after being moved into other departments, and 15 others who were in a critical condition.

At Beekman Downtown hospital, spokeswoman Kathy Zichy said three people were dead on arrival there and about 300 being treated.

But she said many victims were believed to be still trapped beneath the ruins and for the time being "we are well able to respond to the situation."

Giuliani said about 2,000 rescue workers had been mobilized and all 170 hospitals in the New York area had been put on disaster alert to treat the injured.

At least 17 people injured in that attack were rushed to Washington-area hospitals.

Washington Hospital Center, which has received eight injured people, activated its disaster system shortly after 10:00 am (1400 GMT) as they prepared to receive further wounded, the hospital said Tuesday afternoon in a statement.

"Most of those brought here so far have suffered burn injuries. At least four are in critical condition with burns from 30-70 percent," said the statement. The hospital was not releasing the victims' identities.