WTC dead or missing below 5,000

The number of people dead and missing in the remains of the World Trade Centre has fallen below 5,000 for the first time.

A total of 4,964 have been declared missing or dead in the ruins.

City officials believe they are close to a final figure and have appealed for DNA samples from the relatives of the missing as it becomes increasingly difficult to identify the dead.

Among the confirmed dead is a woman who had clung to life since the attacks on September 11, despite suffering 90% burns.

Jennieann Maffeo, 40, had been doused in burning jet fuel as she waited for a bus outside the World Trade Centre, and had amazed doctors by surviving for six weeks.

Her death came as New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani called on the families of the missing to give DNA samples.

So far, the city has collected 2,600 samples, meaning there are at least 1,700 families which have not given their DNA to authorities.

The city's chief medical examiner, Charles Hirsch, said the process of identifying victims was becoming increasingly difficult and so far eight bodies had been identified through DNA.

Thousands of bereaved families are expected to attend a memorial service for the victims at the World Trade Centre site on Sunday.

Work will stop completely for the inter-faith service and families will be given an urn containing earth from the site.