The minute I saw these images on 9-11-01, I felt like these poor souls were in for ill health followed by early death. Along with all those who started digging without protection - probably without thinking, except to try to help.
Too bad most of us don’t carry a men’s large cotton handkerchief. It could have been of some help.
Those who survive are very fortunate. Who knows why one lives and the other dies.
Actually, much depends on one’s immune system.
But who would anticipate such an assault on the immune
system - ???
So tragic, dying at age 42. However, in 2001 she would have been 28. Looking at the photo in an earlier comment, I think she looks rather thin, especially if you look at her calves. I wonder if she might have been somewhat anorexic or already had some kind of stomach problems. Of course, the stress from that near death experience would have made any other problem worse.
Thinking about the recent Chinese Tianjin explosion, they already have identified 139 dead with 34 still unaccounted for. The safety chief has been fired with suspicion of corruption, and 12 executives arrested. Just as in 9/11 firemen took a big hit, on Aug. 17th when only 112 at Tianjin were identified as dead, at least 39 firemen were already identified as dead. There will be more. A few days ago over 600 were still hospitalized and 6,000 forced to find housing elsewhere. If 700 tons of sodium cyanide were exploded, then future poisoning illness and death is almost inevitable although the government seems to be sending in trained hazmat teams with gear.
http://www.itv.com/news/update/2015-08-27/twelve-suspects-in-tianjin-explosion-arrested/