21st century Manhattan

flooding on avenue c caused hurricane sandy on october 29, 2012

on september 11, 2001, 2 of 4 hijacked planes flown twin towers of original world trade center, , towers subsequently collapsed. 7 world trade center collapsed due fires , structural damage caused heavy debris falling collapse of twin towers. other buildings within world trade center complex damaged beyond repair , after demolished. collapse of twin towers caused extensive damage other surrounding buildings , skyscrapers in lower manhattan, , resulted in deaths of 2,606 people, in addition on planes. since 2001, of lower manhattan has been restored, although there has been controversy surrounding rebuilding. many rescue workers , residents of area developed several life-threatening illnesses have led of subsequent deaths. memorial @ site opened public on september 11, 2011, , museum opened in 2014. in 2014, new 1 world trade center, @ 1,776 feet (541 m) , formerly known freedom tower, became tallest building in western hemisphere, while other skyscrapers under construction @ site.

the occupy wall street protests in zuccotti park in financial district of lower manhattan began on september 17, 2011, receiving global attention , spawning occupy movement against social , economic inequality worldwide.

on october 29 , 30, 2012, hurricane sandy caused extensive destruction in borough, ravaging portions of lower manhattan record-high storm surge new york harbor, severe flooding, , high winds, causing power outages hundreds of thousands of city residents , leading gasoline shortages , disruption of mass transit systems. storm , profound impacts have prompted discussion of constructing seawalls , other coastal barriers around shorelines of borough , metropolitan area minimize risk of destructive consequences such event in future. around 15 percent of borough considered in flood-risk zones.

on october 31, 2017, terrorist killed 8 people , injured dozen when took rental pickup truck , deliberately drove down bike path alongside west side highway in lower manhattan, killing 8 people , injuring dozen others before crashing school bus.