Many Maltese have watched the tragic scenes from the United States on TV and on Internet. A few others were on holiday in New York and witnessed the tragic event. Few have come as close to witnessing the tragedy first hand as one Maltese national who chose to give e helping hand in the rescue operation at the site of the collapse of the World Trade Centre Twin Towers, later named ‘Ground Zero’.

This is the experience of David Camilleri, a Gozitan artist residing in New York City:

"I was watching the lone Twin Tower burning, and all of a sudden it disappeared from my sight. I screamed with disbelief. It was a surreal experience. I was simple shocked and numbed. Now, a week after this mayhem has happened, it is slowly sinking in me and finally I am accepting it as a fact.

"On Black Tuesday night, 11th of September, I volunteered at the trauma center in the Chelsea Piers. Me and others were briefed about the triage process and told that they were expecting 20,000 people who would be seeking help by early the following morning. I went home to sleep and by 7:00 am I returned back to help. I did not know what to expect on my way there, a handful of volunteers were waiting around. The only work that was available for us was to carry food and water and helping with collecting the donated clothing. By noon thousands of people gathered to volunteer and we were organized in different groups. I registered as a search and rescue/construction worker. All the volunteers were desperate to do some work but we were told to wait as there is not much one can do.

The few injured persons that arrived were treated by professional nurses and doctors. Everyone wanted to go to ground zero. I wished to go there myself, more out of curiosity than to help. I knew from what I saw on TV that there was not much one can do. Luckily my chance came at 2:30 pm, when I saw 4 construction workers from my group walking out to the street I just joined them and the leader counted me in. When we arrived at ground zero I was astonished of what I encountered, what used to be such a beautiful colorful area near Battery Park City has been transformed into a gray atmosphere of dust and havoc. Words are hard to come by to describe this debacle. Instead of the buildings there were these 7 stories high jumble of steel. Hundreds of firemen where whiling around looking very helpless, sad and tired. The only workers active where the operators of the heavy machinery the rest where waiting to be called for action.

I managed to help a bit by replenishing the firemen and other persons with dust masks to protect themselves from the contamination of asbestos and other dust fibers. I spent 5 hours at ground zero. Soon I got a headache from breathing the toxic smoke and listening to the deafening sound of the heavy machinery. I left the area tired and in a state of numbness as if waking up from a bad dream.

David Camilleri
NYC

Maltese tourists return safely from NYC Audio interview with Reggie Schembri who was on holiday in New York City during the attack From MaltaMedia's Wara l-Ahbar [in Maltese] Produced by Martin Debattista, Darrell Pace & Toni Sant Originally broadcast on Monday, 17th September 2001 Interviewer: Martin Debattista Maltese missionary priest shares experience Audio commentary by Rev. Ivan Sciberras who works at Ridgewood, New Jersey, hometown to 10 men reported missing since the WTC collapse Communicated to MaltaMedia by telephone on Monday, 17th September 2001 [in Maltese] The rescue efforts in NYC Malta's Civil Protection Department Director Peter Cordina talks about the rescue efforts in New York from a veteran's rescuer's perspective. Communicated to MaltaMedia by telephone on Monday, 24th September 2001 [in Maltese] Interviewer: Martin Debattista

Updates from the scenes of the attacks and the ongoing investigations
 

Timeline of the tragedy

Detailed moment-by-moment of the devastating attacks and their aftermath
 

Terrorism against the USA

A list of the major terrorist attacks against the United States in recent years.
 

Toni Sant reports from New York City on the World Trade Center terrorist attack First reaction & comments: 48 hours after the attacks: Friday 7pm - candle vigil: Beyond the emotional spectrum: Arabs are not the enemy: Getting back to normal routine: After seven strange days: The hour is coming: Casualty of Maltese descent: Striking back at terror: Rash of anthrax scares:   To hear the webcasts   on this page you need

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