City’s Count of Dead, Missing Falls to 3,000

The city’s official count of people missing or killed in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center fell to 3,000 Tuesday. The tally, which includes people on the ground and those aboard the two hijacked planes that hit the twin towers, had been as high as 6,700 in September.

City officials have said there are a number of reasons for the steadily declining number: names listed more than once on missing person reports, overestimates from some foreign consulates and families who filed early missing reports but neglected to notify police when loved ones turned up safe.