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America's New War: Chances Diminishing of Finding Anyone Alive

Aired September 18, 2001 - 06:13   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Sign of some tough talk but it's tough talk the American public wants to hear right about now.

And let's check in now at ground zero. CNN's Alessio Vinci is there standing by. And we understand that there is quite a challenge there for those who -- the engineers who are actually helping the rescue workers right now pick through that rubble there.

Alessio, good morning.

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon.

Well, it's been a gigantic rescue operation here. We have been here all night and I can tell you that we have seen a lot of activity here. And we're still only getting the feeling that nobody here is really wants to give up the hope that perhaps somewhere underneath a big pile of rubble there might be still some survivors, although, of course, the chances of finding anybody alive after a week are really grim.

Lots of activity, as I said. We have seen several rescue workers going in. We've even seen a team of FBI agents. Of course this is not just a disaster area, it is also a huge crime scene. FBI agents there perhaps looking for some evidence that can give us some more clues about who these hijackers really were.

A week after the crash, as I said, the big (ph) pile of rubble behind me still smoldering. We understand that there is still some fires underneath the big pile of rubble. And one of the rescue officials telling us that it is considerable that some survivors, although unlikely, some survivors may still be alive in small pockets of air and, therefore, this rescue operation is proceeding extremely slowly because they have to remove the pieces of bricks one by one using their hands because they don't want to use the heavy machinery that would shift the big rubble and eventually close those air pockets.

Most firemen with whom we have been speaking are telling us that it is their duty to continue this search operation despite the fact that the chances of finding anybody alive are really grim. And others are telling -- are telling us that they have a special motivation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) CAPT. DALE BROWN, INTERMOUNTAIN FIRE DEPARTMENT: Every firefighter faces disasters at one point of another, usually much smaller than this. I think every guy here realizes that death is a part of any kind of situation, this is just on a much larger level. I think most guys right now they're dealing with it OK. Most guys with the New York Fire Department are just feeling this tremendous loss. Most of them know somebody.

JACK O'BRIEN, RESCUE WORKER: And the enthusiasm is still there by the police department and the fire department and the contractors, but there's a lot less people there working. But everybody there is working hard and really hopeful. I think everybody wants to be the one that finds somebody.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VINCI: Leon, we've been asking many rescue workers here how long it will take to remove all of this rubble. Some estimates say 500,000 tons of rubble still remain behind me. The answers vary between two months and a year. So, of course, nobody really here really knows how long it will take. One thing is sure, Leon, is that it will take a lot longer before life will be returned to normal behind me here in lower Manhattan.

HARRIS: Yes, that is...

VINCI: Back to you, Leon.

HARRIS: That is for sure. Alessio, let me ask you something because you referenced that rubble there. I read a report this morning that some experts believe that that rubble might actually be holding the basement together and if it's -- if it's removed that might actually cause more problems. Any word at all yet on how long before they actually reach the basement where many people believe there might actually be a survivable chamber?

VINCI: It is unclear how low they went underneath the level. One of the rescue workers told me yesterday that they went so deep as to the sixth level underground. And if I understand correctly, there are seven levels, although, of course, it is a large area and of course it is separated in different sections. So it is unclear how deep they went so far. However, we also understand that there are certain areas where they can't even get there so it is really difficult for me to say how soon they will get to this large area where some survivors some people say may still be there.

HARRIS: Yes, they are still holding out hope. Alessio Vinci, thank you very much. We'll talk with you later on and much throughout the day -- boy.

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