I was in the Marriott World Trade Center hotel and thought I was hallucinating.
There was an explosion next door at the World Trade Center, not a hundred yards from my window on the 17th floor, and I could see the flames.
It looked like a movie set, a giant hole where some floors used to be. I got scared, so instead of continuing to phone headlines to my editor, I told him it was time to go.
My room's windows were cracking. Water was starting to flow in from somewhere. I grabbed my cell phone and tape recorder, pulled on pants and my shirt.
Then, without stopping to put on shoes -- I also left my wallet, keys, computer and luggage -- I ran down the hall, banging on doors to ask people if they needed help getting out.
The hotel's emergency warning system kept telling us to stay in our rooms. Most people weren't paying attention. We were afraid the towers would collapse and kill us. One woman wouldn't budge with her child. She refused to panic but I was losing it, so I said good luck and ran.
In the stairwell, people were running, dragging luggage and screaming. A woman fell, grabbing my shirt and ripping it. My tape recorder and cell phone went flying. I kept running but don't remember going down the 17 flights. After a while, I wasn't aware of any noise on the stairs. People seemed polite in their rush to escape. I don't know how long it took but I finally managed to get down the stairs.
With the others, I went out the door farthest from the trade center. We ran as it continued raining debris. Then another plane crashed into the second tower. For a minute we stood and gawked at the two buildings with holes in them. Flames were shooting out.
People were bloodied, sobbing. High-heeled women's shoes were everywhere.
I bumped into Mark Vitner, an economist with First Union Securities Inc in Charlotte, who was at a conference at the Marriott when the planes crashed.
Vitner said he was taking notes as Robert Scott, president of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co, was speaking on the future of the financial services industry.
There was a loud explosion, Vitner said, but Scott kept talking. "Then the building shook and we knew something was really wrong."
STILL DANGEROUS: The typhoon was expected to weaken, but it would still maintain its structure, with high winds and heavy rain, the weather agency said One person had died amid heavy winds and rain brought by Typhoon Krathon, while 70 were injured and two people were unaccounted for, the Central Emergency Operation Center said yesterday, while work and classes have been canceled nationwide today for the second day. The Hualien County Fire Department said that a man in his 70s had fallen to his death at about 11am on Tuesday while trimming a tree at his home in Shoufeng Township (壽豐). Meanwhile, the Yunlin County Fire Department received a report of a person falling into the sea at about 1pm on Tuesday, but had to suspend search-and-rescue
RULES BROKEN: The MAC warned Chinese not to say anything that would be harmful to the autonomous status of Taiwan or undermine its sovereignty A Chinese couple accused of disrupting a pro-democracy event in Taipei organized by Hong Kong residents has been deported, the National Immigration Agency said in a statement yesterday afternoon. A Chinese man, surnamed Yao (姚), and his wife were escorted by immigration officials to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, where they boarded a flight to China before noon yesterday, the agency said. The agency said that it had annulled the couple’s entry permits, citing alleged contraventions of the Regulations Governing the Approval of Entry of People of the Mainland Area into the Taiwan Area (大陸地區人民進入台灣地區許可辦法). The couple applied to visit a family member in
CELEBRATION: The PRC turned 75 on Oct. 1, but the Republic of China is older. The PRC could never be the homeland of the people of the ROC, Lai said The People’s Republic of China (PRC) could not be the “motherland” of the people of the Republic of China (ROC), President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks in a speech at a Double Ten National Day gala in Taipei, which is part of National Day celebrations that are to culminate in a fireworks display in Yunlin County on Thursday night next week. Lai wished the country a happy birthday and called on attendees to enjoy the performances and activities while keeping in mind that the ROC is a sovereign and independent nation. He appealed for everyone to always love their
‘EXTREME PRESSURE’: Beijing’s goal is to ‘force Taiwan to make mistakes,’ Admiral Tang Hua said, adding that mishaps could serve as ‘excuses’ for launching a blockade China’s authoritarian expansionism threatens not only Taiwan, but the rules-based international order, the navy said yesterday, after its top commander said in an interview that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could blockade the nation at will. The object of Beijing’s expansionist activities is not limited to Taiwan and its use of pressure is not confined to specific political groups or people, the navy said in a statement. China utilizes a mixture of cognitive warfare and “gray zone” military activities to pressure Taiwan, the navy said, adding that PLA sea and air forces are compressing the nation’s defensive depth. The navy continues to
RSS