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Free Malaysia Today
7 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
‘Unspeakable horror': the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
A view of the devastated city of Hiroshima in 1948, three years after the first atomic bomb was dropped on the population. (AFP pic) TOKYO : Japan marks 80 years since the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II. The first on Aug 6, 1945 killed around 140,000 people in Hiroshima, and three days later another 74,000 perished in Nagasaki. Here are some facts about the devastating attacks. The bombs The first atomic bomb was dropped on the western city of Hiroshima by the US bomber Enola Gay, nicknamed 'Little Boy'. It detonated about 600m from the ground, with a force equivalent to 15,000 tonnes of TNT. Tens of thousands died instantly, while others succumbed to injuries or illness in the weeks, months and years that followed. Three days later the US dropped a second bomb, dubbed 'Fat Man', on the southern city of Nagasaki. The attacks remain the only time atomic bombs have been used in wartime. The blasts In Hiroshima, the first thing people noticed was an 'intense ball of fire', according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Temperatures near the blast reached an estimated 7,000°C, which incinerated everything within a radius of about 3km. 'I remember the charred bodies of little children lying around the hypocentre area like black rocks,' Koichi Wada, a witness who was 18 at the time of the Nagasaki attack, said of the bombing. ICRC experts say there were cases of temporary or permanent blindness due to the intense flash of light, and subsequent related damage such as cataracts. A whirlwind of heat generated also ignited thousands of fires that ravaged large parts of the mostly wooden city. A firestorm that consumed all available oxygen caused more deaths by suffocation. It has been estimated that burn- and fire-related casualties accounted for more than half of the immediate deaths in Hiroshima. The explosion generated an enormous shock wave that blew people through the air. Others were crushed to death inside collapsed buildings or injured or killed by flying debris. Radiation effects Radiation sickness was reported in the aftermath by many who survived the initial blasts and firestorms. Acute symptoms included vomiting, headaches, nausea, diarrhoea, haemorrhaging and hair loss, with radiation sickness fatal for many within a few weeks or months. Survivors, known as 'hibakusha', also experienced longer-term effects including elevated risks of thyroid cancer and leukaemia, and both Hiroshima and Nagasaki have seen elevated cancer rates. Of 50,000 radiation victims from both cities studied by the Japanese-US Radiation Effects Research Foundation, about 100 died of leukaemia and 850 suffered from radiation-induced cancers. The group found no evidence however of a 'significant increase' in serious birth defects among survivors' children. The aftermath The twin bombings dealt the final blow to imperial Japan, which surrendered on Aug 15, 1945, bringing an end to World War II. Historians have debated whether the bombings ultimately saved lives by bringing an end to the conflict and averting a ground invasion. But those calculations meant little to survivors, many of whom battled decades of physical and psychological trauma, as well as the stigma that sometimes came with being a hibakusha. Despite their suffering, many survivors were shunned – in particular for marriage – because of prejudice over radiation exposure. Survivors and their supporters have become some of the loudest and most powerful voices opposing nuclear weapons, including meeting world leaders to press their case. Last year, the Japanese anti-nuclear group Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of hibakusha, won the Nobel Peace Prize. In 2019, Pope Francis met several hibakusha in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, decrying the 'unspeakable horror' and calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons. In 2016, Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima. He offered no apology for the attack, but embraced survivors and called for a world free of nuclear weapons. Russia is one of around 100 countries expected to attend this year's memorial in Nagasaki, the first time Moscow has been invited to commemorations in the city since the start of the war with Ukraine.
Mint
05-08-2025
- Science
- Mint
80 years since US dropped atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki: 5 facts about the attacks that changed history
As Japan solemnly marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki this week, the world reflects on one of the darkest and most defining moments of modern history. On 6 August 1945, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, followed by a second attack on Nagasaki three days later. Together, the bombings claimed over 200,000 lives and forever altered the course of warfare, diplomacy, and science. Here are five key facts to understand the magnitude and legacy of the bombings: On the morning of 6 August 1945, a US B-29 bomber named Enola Gay released an atomic bomb dubbed 'Little Boy' over the city of Hiroshima. The device exploded approximately 600 metres above the ground, unleashing a blast equivalent to 15,000 tonnes of TNT. Around 140,000 people were killed by the end of that year. Just three days later, on 9 August, the US dropped a second bomb—'Fat Man'—on Nagasaki, killing an estimated 74,000 more. These remain the only two times nuclear weapons have been used in warfare. In Hiroshima, temperatures near the blast centre reached a staggering 7,000°C, incinerating everything in a three-kilometre radius. Survivors recalled seeing a massive fireball and being thrown through the air by the blast. Entire neighbourhoods, largely built of wood, were engulfed in firestorms that consumed all available oxygen, causing death by asphyxiation. One witness from Nagasaki, Koichi Wada, recalled: 'I remember the charred bodies of little children lying around the hypocentre area like black rocks.' Many in Japan who survived the initial explosions suffered from acute radiation sickness—nausea, hair loss, internal bleeding, and vomiting. Over the years, survivors, known as hibakusha, faced higher risks of leukaemia and other cancers. Yet, a Japanese-US research study found no significant rise in congenital disabilities among their children. What was the global aftermath of Hiroshima & Nagasaki? The bombings led to Japan's surrender on 15 August 1945, effectively ending World War II. However, the attacks sparked global debate over the ethics and necessity of nuclear weapons. While some argue the strikes averted even greater loss of life by avoiding a land invasion, survivors continue to bear the trauma—both physical and psychological. Many hibakusha faced social stigma and were ostracised, particularly in marriage, due to myths surrounding radiation. Survivors and their supporters have become global advocates for nuclear disarmament. Groups like Nihon Hidankyo, which won the Nobel Peace Prize, continue to campaign against nuclear weapons. In recent years, global leaders have acknowledged the suffering. Pope Francis met hibakusha in 2019, calling nuclear arms 'a crime against humanity.' In 2016, Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima, embracing survivors though offering no apology. This year, in a significant gesture, Russia is among the 100 nations expected to attend Nagasaki's commemorative ceremony—marking its first invitation since the war in Ukraine began.
Arab News
04-08-2025
- General
- Arab News
‘Unspeakable horror': the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
TOKYO: Japan this week marks 80 years since the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War first on August 6, 1945 killed around 140,000 people in Hiroshima and three days later another 74,000 perished in are some facts about the devastating attacks:The first atomic bomb was dropped on the western city of Hiroshima by the US bomber Enola Gay, nicknamed 'Little Boy.'It detonated about 600 meters from the ground, with a force equivalent to 15,000 tons of of thousands died instantly, while others succumbed to injuries or illness in the weeks, months and years that days later the US dropped a second bomb, dubbed 'Fat Man,' on the southern city of attacks remain the only time atomic bombs have been used in Hiroshima, the first thing people noticed was an 'intense ball of fire,' according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).Temperatures near the blast reached an estimated 7,000 degrees Celsius (12,632 degrees Fahrenheit), which incinerated everything within a radius of about three kilometers (five miles).'I remember the charred bodies of little children lying around the hypocenter area like black rocks,' Koichi Wada, a witness who was 18 at the time of the Nagasaki attack, has said of the experts say there were cases of temporary or permanent blindness due to the intense flash of light, and subsequent related damage such as cataracts.A whirlwind of heat generated also ignited thousands of fires that ravaged large parts of the mostly wooden city. A firestorm that consumed all available oxygen caused more deaths by has been estimated that burn- and fire-related casualties accounted for more than half of the immediate deaths in explosion generated an enormous shock wave that blew people through the air. Others were crushed to death inside collapsed buildings or injured or killed by flying sickness was reported in the aftermath by many who survived the initial blasts and symptoms included vomiting, headaches, nausea, diarrhea, haemorrhaging and hair loss, with radiation sickness fatal for many within a few weeks or known as 'hibakusha,' also experienced longer-term effects including elevated risks of thyroid cancer and leukaemia, and both Hiroshima and Nagasaki have seen elevated cancer 50,000 radiation victims from both cities studied by the Japanese-US Radiation Effects Research Foundation, about 100 died of leukaemia and 850 suffered from radiation-induced group found no evidence however of a 'significant increase' in serious birth defects among survivors' twin bombings dealt the final blow to imperial Japan, which surrendered on August 15, 1945, bringing an end to World War have debated whether the bombings ultimately saved lives by bringing an end to the conflict and averting a ground those calculations meant little to survivors, many of whom battled decades of physical and psychological trauma, as well as the stigma that sometimes came with being a their suffering, many survivors were shunned — in particular for marriage — because of prejudice over radiation and their supporters have become some of the loudest and most powerful voices opposing nuclear weapons, including meeting world leaders to press their year, the Japanese anti-nuclear group Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of hibakusha, won the Nobel Peace 2019, Pope Francis met several hibakusha in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, decrying the 'unspeakable horror' and calling for the abolition of nuclear 2016, Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima. He offered no apology for the attack, but embraced survivors and called for a world free of nuclear is one of around 100 countries expected to attend this year's memorial in Nagasaki, the first time Moscow has been invited to commemorations in the city since the start of the war with Ukraine.
