The Devastation of the Hiroshima Bombing
Women's clothes seared to her skin by the Bombing
The bombing of Hiroshima was horrifying and terrible. Lives were changed on that fateful day, August 6, 1945. Civilians had no warning about what was going to happen. For many, they went about their daily lives. Although the Japanese detected three small U.S aircraft approaching, they didn't want to waste fuel and resources on intercepting such a small formation. This would be a very big mistake.The bomb was dropped and detonated directly over the Shima Surgical Clinic. 70,000-80,000 civilians were immediately seared to death, which was about 30 percent of the population at the time. The bombing especially delayed relief, killing 93% of the doctors in Hiroshima. It is estimated that 90,000-140,000 died later due to lack of care for burns, radiation, and diseases. 200,000 people have been estimated to die because of radiation related cancers.
These bombings eventually led to Japan surrendering. Emperor Hirohito, described the bombings as, "...the enemy now possesses a new and terrible weapon with the power to destroy many innocent lives and do incalculable damage. Should we continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization."
Since then, many measures have been taken to stop this from ever happening again. The International Atomic Energy Agency was established in 1957, to set peaceful guidelines for nuclear technology. Many nations have signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which bans testing of nuclear weapons.
This bombing caused thousands of innocent civilians to die. In the future, we should look at our flaws and our mistakes, and work so that this does not happen again.
These bombings eventually led to Japan surrendering. Emperor Hirohito, described the bombings as, "...the enemy now possesses a new and terrible weapon with the power to destroy many innocent lives and do incalculable damage. Should we continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization."
Since then, many measures have been taken to stop this from ever happening again. The International Atomic Energy Agency was established in 1957, to set peaceful guidelines for nuclear technology. Many nations have signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which bans testing of nuclear weapons.
This bombing caused thousands of innocent civilians to die. In the future, we should look at our flaws and our mistakes, and work so that this does not happen again.
