Japan: Nagasaki marks 75th anniversary of atomic bombing with a plea to world leaders

The Japanese city of Nagasaki on Sunday marked its 75th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing, with the mayor and dwindling survivors urging world leaders including their own to do more for a nuclear weapons ban.

At 11:02 a.m. local time, the moment the B-29 bomber Bockscar dropped a 4.5-ton (10,000-pound) plutonium bomb dubbed "Fat Man," Nagasaki survivors and other participants stood in a minute of silence to honour more than 70,000 dead.


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Japan - Genocide World War II : The moment Truman announced the bombing of Hiroshima

On August 6, 1945, US B-29 aircraft the Enola Gay unleashed unprecedented power when it dropped the world's first atomic bomb, "Little Boy" on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.

Three days later, the US dropped a second nuclear bomb on the city of Nagasaki.

The bombings caused unrivalled destruction and killed at least 200,000 people.

Days later, Japan surrendered and World War II was over.

The bombings remain the only use of nuclear weapons for warfare in history.
An excerpt of former US president Harry Truman's announcement that the US had dropped an atomic bomb for the first time in history is shown in this video below (via Youtube). Click onm link below.

Read more: The moment Truman announced the bombing of Hiroshima - Al Jazeera English

Japan - Hiroshima and Nagasaki Genocide: 70 years on: Survivors remember horror of nuclear bombs

More than 200.000 civilians massacred in Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Thursday marks 70 years since the US atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

It killed around 140,000 people in the Japanese city by the end of 1945. The only structure left standing on ground zero is now known as the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome.

Now recognised by UNESCO as “a stark and powerful symbol of the most destructive force ever created by humankind”, it has been transformed into a peace memorial.

During World War II, the building was used to house government offices.

Kimie Mihara, now aged 89 and a great-grandmother, worked there as a teenager.
“I survived because I was late for work,” she said.

“So I felt lucky because I was not here at the time but when I think of those who died because they were diligent and on time, I am just so sorry for them.”

Three days later, a second atomic bomb was dropped by the US on the city of Nagasaki bringing the total number of people killed to over 200.000 people,  and on August 15, Japan surrendered.

Their ranks dwindling, survivors continue to suffer the after-effects of radiation. Some find it too painful to talk about their experiences.

Others do speak out, so that the world will never forget.

Read more: Hiroshima Genocide:  70 years on: Survivors remember horror of nuclear bomb | euronews, world news