Going under ground zero, where a dangerous cleanup was underway | 60 Minutes Archive
In a Nutshell
Nearly two months after 9/11, the 16-acre Ground Zero site remained an active cleanup zone with ongoing subterranean fires and unstable structures like Building 6, where vehicles had melted from extreme heat and suspended concrete blocks posed constant hazards. Engineers faced critical challenges stabilizing the 3-foot-thick slurry wall ("the bathtub") that prevents Hudson River flooding, requiring over 1,000 cables drilled 120 feet into bedrock, while managing water from fire suppression efforts to prevent flooding into transit lines. Despite removing 400,000 tons of debris (one-third of the estimated 1.2 million total), the $2.5 billion operation faced years of work ahead, with crews balancing construction demands against the site's sacred nature containing human remains.
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The investigation begins at ground zero in Manhattan nearly two months after the September 11 terrorist attacks. The site, covering 16 acres, represents a former underground city that has become a burial ground. Seven weeks and one day after the Twin Towers attack, smoke continues to fill the air as subterranean fires remain active. The complete removal of surface debris will require several more months, followed by an extensive underground cleanup of tunnels, garages, and shopping areas beneath the site.
Commissioner Ken Holden of New York's Department of Design and Construction leads the cleanup operation. Debris from the collapsed towers penetrated World Trade Center Building 6, crashing through nine floors and six basement levels. Large chunks of the building's facade, some weighing 30 tons, fell from the 90th floor and higher, creating an open atrium-like space and leaving the structure unstable both above and below ground.
The descent into Building 6 revealed extensive damage including cracks and fissures in staircases and walls. The team encountered loose concrete blocks suspended only by wires overhead, requiring extreme caution during navigation. The deeper levels became increasingly dark, dusty, and hazardous.
The team discovered cars hanging suspended in the debris field, with tires and rubber components completely burned away. The fire temperatures were intense enough to melt aluminum hubcaps into puddles. The underground garage, formerly used by federal government employees, contained vehicles that had been incinerated by the extreme heat.
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