This Is What Complete Nuclear Destruction Looks Like... Horrifying!
By November 5, 2015
On August 6, 1945, during the final stages of World War II, the United States dropped a massive atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. Nicknamed “Little Boy,” the bomb flattened the city and killed tens of thousands of civilians.
Three days later on August 9, while Japan was still trying to comprehend the devastation in Hiroshima, a second bomb nicknamed “Fat Man” was dropped, this time, in the Japanese city of Nagasaki, destroying most of the city and killing around 60,000 - 70, 000 people.
Six days after the Nagasaki bombing, Japan surrendered, marking the end of Word War II.
This is Hiroshima before the bombing.
The bomber crew pictured beside the Enola Gay, the B-29 aircraft used to drop Little Boy over Hiroshima.
Photo: Afp|AFP|Getty Images
The bombing went according to plan. The Enola Gay dropped Little Boy from a height of 31,000 feet, and after falling for 44 seconds, it detonated at 1,900 feet. Then a flash of light.
Photo: AFP|Getty Images
After the explosion, the white shadow of a man who escaped radiation is visible on the surface of a bridge. The man was protected by the body of another man.
Photo: Keystone-france|Gamma-Keystone|Getty Images
About 69 percent of the buildings in Hiroshima were completely destroyed, and nearly 4.7 square miles of the cityscape were demolished.
Photo: Str|AFP|Getty Images
Those who didn't die immediately suffered radiation burns. Another 70,000 people died in the following months.
Photo: Afp|AFP|Getty Images
Bombing victims and survivors gathered wherever they could find refuge, like the rubble of a bank.
Photo: Keystone-france|Gamma-Keystone|Getty Images
After news of the bombing reached Tokyo, Emperor Hirohito and the Japanese government didn't react. Three days later, the U.S. struck again, dropping Fat Man in the city of Nagasaki.
Photo: Keystone-france|Gamma-Keystone|Getty Images
Thanks to the natural landscape of Nagasaki, the blast was limited by hills and did less damage than in Hiroshima. Even so, approximately 70,000 people died; 35,000 instantly.
Photo: Keystone-france|Gamma-Keystone|Getty Images
The effects of the bombs lingered for years. Months later survivors were still wearing gas masks.
Photo: Keystone-france|Gamma-Keystone|Getty Images
Three years after the bombing in Hiroshima, the landscape still looked the same.
Photo: Afp|AFP|Getty Images
There were 192,719 survivors of the bombings. Today, the number of survivors is shrinking daily. The hibakusha, or "explosion-affected people," won't be able to speak out against nuclear weapons much longer.
Photo: Mondadori|Mondadori|Getty Images
H/T AllDay
