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How the Twin Towers Fell

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September 11 Photo Timeline: The WTC North Tower Collapses

People flee the New York World Trade Center after the towers collapsed

People flee the New York World Trade Center after the towers collapsed

Photo © Ezra Shaw / Getty Images
Because the jets struck the World Trade Center Towers on the upper floors, the weight of the buildings caused their own collapse. As each concrete slab floor gave way, it smashed into the floor below. The massive downward crush of floors crashing, or pancaking, on floors, sent out enormous clouds of debris and smoke.

At 10:28 a.m., the north tower of the World Trade Center collapsed from top down, pancaking into dust.

Next: Ashes Cover the Skeleton of the Destroyed World Trade Center Towers >

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