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| Home Front |
| Death Certificate Process Begins |
| 2001-09-27 |
| By KATHERINE ROTH, Associated Press Writer Hundreds of people, some sobbing, filtered into a building on a Hudson River pier Wednesday, many to begin the heartbreaking process of applying for death certificates for loved ones still missing in the smoking ruins of the World Trade Center. "I'm still hopeful that somehow my wonderful wife will be found alive, but for the sake of our children I have to somehow sort through this,'' said George Santiago, 37, of Brooklyn, his eyes brimming with tears. More than 6,300 people are missing in the crumbled towers. Only about 300 people have been confirmed dead, and officials have said that it could take months to remove and identify the victims of the fiery disaster, and that some may never be found at all. Typically, it can take three years to get a death certificate without a body, a waiting period used to prevent fraud. But the city is streamlining the process - and reducing the wait to a few days in most cases - so that victims' families can get death benefits and access to bank accounts. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |