‘I thought we were done’: Former MP recalls witnessing WTC south tower collapse while working in NYC on 9/11
Former Member of Parliament Francesco Sorbara stands in front of his Woodbridge home clutching a black backpack covered in soot. The grey dust that still clings to the material conjures conflicting emotions. On one hand, it reminds him how lucky he was. One the other, it’s a symbol of the cruel fate inflicted on thousands. […]
Francesco Sorbara, a former Member of Parliament, vividly recalls witnessing the collapse of the World Trade Center's south tower on September 11, 2001, while working in New York City. Living in New York at the time, Sorbara was in the city for a training session at a building directly across from the twin towers when the attacks unfolded. As he emerged from the subway, both towers had been struck by planes, leaving the city in chaos and panic.
The first tower collapsed after about five minutes, and Sorbara, struck by the suddenness of the event, felt a deep sense of disbelief. He remembers running for his life as clouds of debris and soot enveloped the area, turning the sky into a dark, murky mess. The screams of people nearby were hauntingly vivid in his memory, a grim reminder of the lives lost in the attack.
After finding refuge in a burger joint, Sorbara headed to a nearby church, where he could wash off the soot and change into clean clothes. Despite the confusion and fear, he knew the significance of the day. Looking back 25 years later, Sorbara realizes the immense impact the attacks had on history. "The sounds of the screams when the tower collapsed... I will never forget that."
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