Probably the deadliest terrorist attack ever waged by mankind, the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City have had an incalculable toll that keeps rising even more than two decades later. The complete figures of the casualties would attest to the enormous human cost that tragic day suffered and continued to suffer due to health conditions.
Deaths at the World Trade Center
A total of 2,753 people died in New York City as a direct result of the September 11 attacks. All these deaths occurred in the two towers and in the immediate vicinity of the sites of destruction, representing the vast majority of the total of 2,977 people killed across all attack sites. For a complete timeline of the attacks, Read the article Here.
Casualties in New York include:
- 2,192 civilians (including eight EMTs and paramedics from private hospital units)
- 343 from the New York City Fire Department (FDNY)
- 71 law enforcement officers of various agencies, including 23 from NYPD and 37 from Port Authority Police Department
Approximately 1700 victims were from the North Tower, while 1000 victims were from the South Tower. The average age of people who died was 40 years; the youngest was Christine Lee Hanson, who was 2.5 years old, aboard Flight 175; the oldest was Robert Norton, who was 85 and was on Flight 11.
Death from 9/11 related illnesses
The death toll continues to grow from 9/11-related illnesses. As of 2025, nearly 7,000 have died from the illness due to exposure to toxic dust and debris, much more than the 2,753 who died the day of the attacks. It is expected that deaths due to 9/11-related diseases will soon surpass those lost on that fateful day.
Injury statistics and survivors
Within 48 hours of the attacks, about 1,688 patients received care at five major hospitals in Manhattan, with 65% being WTC survivors treated for injuries or illnesses related to the attack. A larger survey indicated that 91 hospitals in the metropolitan area provided emergency room treatment to about 6,000 WTC victims and admitted 500.
Injuries most often seen in survivors include:
- Eye injuries and irritation
- Foot injuries
- Skin burns
- Head injuries
- Contusions, sprains, and strains
- Broken bones
- Severe inhalation injuries
Among injured and hospitalized survivors, inhalational injury was present in 37% of cases, while burns were sustained by 19% of cases. For 5 months, from September 11 till February 2002, a total of 18 patients with severe burns were treated at the William Randolph Hearst Burn Center at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, of whom 11 were saved.
Long-term health impact
As of 2024, the World Trade Center Health Registry is tracking more than 132,530 responders and survivors certified for various health conditions. Some key statistics include:
- 27% who have chronic rhinosinusitis
- 25% diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease
- 15% who have asthma
- 30% have received a cancer diagnosis by 2024, up significantly from 8% in 2007
- 2,405 cases of asbestosis and other lung diseases have been certified
Ongoing identification efforts
Approximately 1,100 victims are still unidentified, roughly 40% of those who perished in the World Trade Center attacks, despite almost 24 years of continuous work. As of August 2025, 1,653 victims have been positively identified by the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Recent identification breakthroughs include:
- Three victims identified in August 2025: Ryan Fitzgerald, Barbara Keating, and an unnamed woman
- Two victims identified in September 2023: marking the first identifications since January 2024
Identification is facilitated by advanced DNA techniques, with an emphasis on next-generation sequencing technology, currently being more sensitive and faster than the conventional DNA methods. Currently, 21,906 remains have been recovered by the medical examiner’s office from the World Trade Center site, with 291 bodies recovered intact.
Families still waiting
1,717 families never received final remains of their loved ones. The medical examiner’s office keeps a separate case file for each of the 2,753 victims. The forensic analysis of remains continues, with matches being sought against victim profiles. Remains can either be released to the families or be kept under medical examiner custody until future identification procedures permit.
