The number of New York City Fire Department (FDNY) first responders who died from illnesses related to 9/11 has reached 343, equaling the number of fire department professionals who lost their lives on the day of the 2001 terrorist attacks.
Two more FDNY members died this September from 9/11-related illnesses, just after the 22nd anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center, according to a statement from the fire department on social media.
Hilda Vannata, an emergency medical technician with the fire department, died Sept. 20 of cancer, the department reports.
Vannata was born in Puerto Rico and moved to New York as a child, according to her obituary. She joined the Fire Department in 1988 and served as a paramedic at Battalion 14-Lincoln Hospital for 26 years, the obituary states.
Retired firefighter Robert Fulco died Saturday morning (23) from pulmonary fibrosis, making him the second member to lose his life this week, according to the Fire Department.
“You will never forget them”
“We have long known this day was coming, but its reality is surprising all the same,” Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said in a statement. “343 of our heroes were lost in one day and today, 343 more. The FDNY will never forget them. This is our legacy. This is our promise,” she said.
In addition to the increase in the number of firefighters and first responders who have died following rescue operations at ground zero, the number of illnesses linked to the World Trade Center attacks also continues to grow, Kavanagh said.
11 thousand firefighters
According to the Fire Department, 11,000 firefighters suffer from illnesses related to the World Trade Center, including 3,500 who have cancer. Exposure to toxic materials after disaster has been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, cancer and other illnesses.
“Many of our members appeared to us on that fateful day, and many were lost. The legacy we create for them is one of honor and promise,” said Kavanagh. “That’s why we continue to advocate for survivors and won’t stop pushing until all of our members have the care they deserve for the rest of their lives,” she said.
More than 71,000 people are currently enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry, which seeks to monitor the health of 9/11 first responders and others who were in the vicinity of the attacks.
In addition to first responders, the attacks left ongoing health effects on World Trade Center workers who evacuated their workplaces, passersby, residents of surrounding buildings, and volunteers who spent time at ground zero in the following weeks.
Source: CNN Brasil
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