This week marks the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, tragic events that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of
people. Some perished instantly, while others succumbed soon after due to burns
and shock. Many more suffered from the long-term effects of radiation in the months
and years that followed.
At 8:15 AM on 6 th August, 1945, the US aircraft Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb
on the bustling city centre of Hiroshima, an area filled with residents and businesses.
The bomb, known as "Little Boy" due to its long, thin shape, was made of uranium-
235. With no natural barriers like hills to mitigate the impact, the resulting fireball
devastated 13 square kilometres of the city.
The explosion's core reached several million degrees Celsius, causing a heat flash
that vaporized human tissue. Within half a mile of the blast's epicentre, every person
was killed, leaving only shadows burned into stone.
Beyond this radius, many died from the heat and blast waves, whether outdoors or
inside collapsing and burning buildings. The immediate death rate in this area
exceeded 90%.
he resulting firestorm generated hurricane-force winds, intensifying the destruction.
Nearly 63% of Hiroshima's buildings were completely destroyed, and about 92%
were either destroyed or damaged. Although exact figures are difficult to determine,
at least 75,000 people died in the first hours, with around 140,000 dead by
December 1945. By the end of 1950, the death toll had reached approximately
200,000.
Many survivors of the initial blast died shortly afterward from severe burns, while
others succumbed to injuries due to the collapse of rescue and medical services,
with much of the infrastructure and personnel lost.
Within a few days, those exposed to radiation near the hypocentre experienced
symptoms like nausea, vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, and hair loss, leading to death
within a week.Those farther from the explosion developed symptoms one to four
weeks later.
Survivors, known as ‘hibakusha’ in Japanese, continue to suffer from radiation's
long-term effects. Pregnant women who survived faced additional challenges, as the
radiation severely impacted foetuses.
Many were stillborn, and those born alive often had higher infant mortality rates,
abnormally small skulls, and mental disabilities. Starting around 1960, there was a
notable increase in cancer rates, particularly affecting the thyroid, breast, lung, and
salivary glands.
Though this catastrophe occurred decades ago, its relevance persists, especially as
nations continue to renew and expand their nuclear arsenals. The risk of war
escalating into a nuclear conflict remains a pressing concern.
Recent developments include the United States redeploying nuclear weapons to
Britain for the first time since 2008 and Russia positioning its nuclear weapons in
Belarus. Meanwhile, in the Middle East, the ongoing conflict in Gaza has brought the
region dangerously close to a broader, nuclear conflict.
As we remember the victims of 1945’s atomic bombings in Japan, we must further
our campaigning to ensure such a nuclear catastrophe is never repeated.
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