Reply #2: Well, a LOT of damage was done to surrounding structures.

[benburch]

In a controlled implosion, the needle core would have been blown first, and then the skin, from which as much material as possible had been removed. The skin would have been tied to the core with cables, and would have been sawn through in many places to weaken it. All of the energy would have gone straight down into the foundation hole. Mind you, this never would have been done due to the subway lines and etc. WTC was going to have to be taken apart when the time came.

In this case, when the building came down, in addition to the shock wave, both seismic and carried by the air, there was solid material that shot out at near rifle velocity. This is what weakened the surrounding structures.

I don't think anybody lived who was within a block when the shock wave hit. This was an event much like a small nuclear weapon going off in the city.