September 11 attacks: a new victim identified through science
More than twenty years after the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York, science continues to provide answers to the victims' families. The city's medical authorities announced this week the identification of a new person who died during the collapse of the World Trade Center towers.
This identification was made possible thanks to recent advances in genetic genealogy. Experts analyzed human remains found at the site, using DNA sequencing techniques far more advanced than those available during the initial searches. The victim's name has not been made public, at the express request of their family.
This process is long and complex, as debris and conditions at the site have severely damaged biological samples over the years. Despite these difficulties, New York medical examiners are working tirelessly to restore the identities of the missing. To date, approximately 1,100 victims, or 40% of those who died in the towers, have still not been formally identified.
For the families, each identification represents an important step in their grieving process. Local authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to continuing these searches for as long as necessary, promising never to abandon efforts to identify all the victims of this historic tragedy.