The Damage
The atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima at 8:15 a.m., August 6, 1945. It detonated 580 meters in the air. Though we don't know exactly how many perished in the bombing, it is estimated that 140,000 (plus or minus 10,000) had died by the end of December 1945.

●See what Hiroshima looked like after the atomic bomb exploded.
※This is a panoramic image. Clicking on the right side of the screen moves the image rightward. Clicking on the left side of the screen moves the image leftward.

Hiroshima two months after the bombing Photographer: Harbert F. Austin Jr. Courtesy : Bred M. Austin Collection : Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

To see the image of Hiroshima after the bombing, you need QuickTime 4.

Characteristics of A-bomb Damage
The atomic bomb was quite different from all previous bombs. At the moment of detonation, powerful radiation and a fierce heat ray were emitted. As the rising temperature expanded the surrounding air, it generated a tremendous blast. The complex interaction of these factors amplified the damage.
　　 The three energies─heat ray, blast, and radiation─caused instantaneous mass destruction and indiscriminate mass slaughter.