Hiroshima Bombing: Unbelievable!

The Hiroshima bombing on August 6th 1945 at 8:15am and the resulting Hiroshima aftermath were unlike anything seen before because of the intensity and scale of the bomb`s destructive power.

Unbelievable damage, destruction and death were caused by the single atomic bomb`s blast and resulting fireball, the firestorm that followed and, of course, radiation.

The blast, released in every direction, a shock/preasure wave faster than the speed of sound, destroying pretty much everything within a 1.6 km (1 mile) radius.

The fireball was 4000˚C (7200˚F) and about 280 meters (1,000 ft) in diameter. An example of the intense heat at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (photograph below from Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum), shows the "Shadow of Hiroshima," a person`s shadow burned into some steps where he or she was sitting at the time. 

Arguably, the effect with the most lasting impact, was that of neutron and gamma radiation. This not only caused radiation sickness, killing those affected soon after exposure, but also leukemia and other forms of cancer as seen in the true story of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.

Radiation also desended from the sky in the form of “black rain.”

Black with soot from the fires which raged out of control, the thick, oily rain was also highly radioactive.

Falling about 45 min after the bomb was dropped, it rained for about an hour.

Unfortunately, as the black rain fell many drank it, increasing their exposure to the radiation, which would sooner than later, kill them.

All in all, it is estimated that approximately 250, 000 people have died due to the Hiroshima bomb.