Death Toll at WTC Drops Below 3,000 http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-attacks-the-toll1220dec20.story?coll=sns%2Dap%2Dnationworld%2Dheadlines By Associated Press December 20, 2001, 4:18 AM EST NEW YORK -- The city's official tally of people missing or killed in the World Trade Center attacks has fallen below 3,000 for the first time. The new count, which includes people on the ground and those aboard the two hijacked planes that hit the twin towers on Sept. 11, is 2,992. It had been as high as 6,700 in September. It was 3,000 on Tuesday. City officials have said there are several reasons for the steadily declining number, including: names listed more than once on missing-person reports, overestimates from some foreign consulates and families that filed early missing reports but neglected to notify police when loved ones turned up safe. As of Wednesday, the city medical examiner's office had issued 550 death certificates based on identifications made from remains. Another 1,958 death certificates had been issued without a body at the request of victims' families so they can claim insurance benefits, access bank accounts and process wills. The rest are considered missing. |