Why did the World Trade Center towers collapse? Weren't they designed to be earthquake-proof and impact-proof? The 110-story twin towers of the World Trade Center, which stood at a height of 1,353 feet, were designed to withstand earthquakes as well as impacts like that of a plane. This was evidenced by the fact that the buildings did not fall over on impact, says Brian Markham, a structural engineer. The more likely cause of the buildings' collapse was the resulting fire, exacerbated by the huge quantities of jet fuel present.
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