According to multiple sources, the number of people who died due to the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States during World War II is estimated to be around 200,000. Specifically, the death toll for the attack on Hiroshima is estimated to be around 140,000, while the number of deaths at Nagasaki is estimated to be around 70,000.
It is important to note that these figures do not include the thousands of people who died of radiation-related illnesses and other aftereffects of the bombings in the months and years after the attacks.
How many civilians died in Nagasaki and Hiroshima?
The exact number of civilians killed in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is not known. Estimates vary greatly, ranging from 150,000 to 246,000 killed in Hiroshima and up to 80,000 killed in Nagasaki.
It is difficult to measure such a large number of deaths accurately due to a variety of factors, including the large number of people displaced by the bombings, which made the task of counting the fatalities almost impossible.
According to the US Strategic Bombing Survey, the combined number of deaths in both cities was likely more than 200,000, with an estimated 140,000 in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki. In 1965, the Japanese government officially set the death toll in Hiroshima at 140,000 and in Nagasaki at 70,000.
This number was based on available records, including hospital registrations and reports from Japanese observers and survivors.
Is it still Radioactive in Hiroshima?
Yes, Hiroshima is still radioactive from the atomic bombing of August 6, 1945. Parts of the city still contain high levels of nuclear contamination, even though radiation levels have declined since the bombing due to natural processes.
Radiation levels are still elevated in certain parts of the city, notably near the hypocenter of the bombing, the area of highest radiation and destruction. Radiation levels in these areas can be several times higher than average, though they are still considered safe for visitors and locals, especially if protective measures are taken.
In addition, many artifacts from the bombing, such as glass pieces, are still radioactive and should be handled with care.
How many POWS died in Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
Due to the immense destruction caused by the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the exact number of POWs who lost their lives remains uncertain. Estimates suggest that approximately 140-150 POWs were in Hiroshima and 170-180 in Nagasaki when the bombs were dropped.
Of these, only around 20 are known to have survived in Hiroshima and 28 in Nagasaki. These survivors described scenes of mass destruction, with many of their fellow prisoners perishing in the aftermath of the blast.
Due to the difficulty of tracking down POWs during the war, it’s likely that many more were present in these cities at the time than those officially registered by their captors. A 1945 American intelligence report estimated that 436 POWs had been in Hiroshima at the time of the bombing, and similarly, a British report concluded 1938 POWs were in Nagasaki when the bomb was released.
It is therefore likely an additional 300-400 POWs died in these two attacks, though the true number may never be known.
How did Japan treat American prisoners?
The treatment of American prisoners by Japan during World War II was highly variable and dependent on both the specific circumstances of the prisoners and upon the individuals charged with their care.
In general, however, accounts of brutality, neglect, and mistreatment of prisoners of war by Japanese forces were widespread, particularly for those held in Japanese military prison camps. Reports and evidence of starvation, beatings, torture, physical injury and neglect, inadequate shelter and clothing, and deliberate humiliation were commonly reported.
There are also countless stories of heroic actions taken by Japanese captors in providing for their prisoners, including instances where Japanese soldiers shared their food and risked rebukes or punishments to aid their prisoners.
American and Allied prisoners of war in Japanese captivity during the very end of World War II were essentially left to fend for themselves while their captors abandoned them. Food and supplies ran desperately short, even while American forces provided assistance.
In the post-war period, those who were in the prisoner of war camps have become increasingly vocal in remembering the brutality they experienced, and have worked to obtain acknowledgment and justice for their mistreatment.
While US government efforts have been largely unsuccessful in this regard, in 2015, the Japanese government began offering small payments to surviving POWs, as a result of a court order. These payments are largely seen as token recompense for the suffering, neglect, and maltreatment which American and Allied prisoners of war endured in Japanese captivity.
Were there POWs in Nagasaki and Hiroshima?
Yes, there were POWs in Nagasaki and Hiroshima. The exact number is not known. However, the U.S. Army historian Kenneth Macksey noted that 58 British, 5 Dutch, and 4 Australian POWs were in Nagasaki and 183 British and 43 Dutch POWs were in Hiroshima.
Some of them were injured or killed due to the atomic bombings and many of them suffered long-term health effects. Consequently, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Australia eventually filed claims for compensation with the U.S. government.
In a 1951 settlement, the U.S. paid $20,000 to each of the POWs in Hiroshima and $15,000 to each of the POWs in Nagasaki. Furthermore, the U.S. provided additional reparations to the countries of the affected POWs.
Were there any American POWs in Hiroshima?
Yes, there were four American POWs in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945. Three of the prisoners were U.S. airmen from B-29 bombers and the other was a U.S. Navy sailor. They had been captured after their planes crashed and been taken to a Japanese prison camp in the city.
When the bomb was dropped, their barracks was located about 3 km from the epicenter. Miraculously, the four POWs managed to survive the devastating explosion. The airmen were burnt severely on their faces and bodies, while the sailor had no visible wounds.
They were temporarily sheltered in a small prison near the city. Doctors at the site noticed the extreme effects of the radioactive fallout and would not let them leave the shelter. After a few days, they were transferred to the Yamaguchi Prefectural Hospital and later to the Tokyo Army Hospital.
They were among the very few survivors of the attack and were the only known American POWs to witness the destruction firsthand.
The airmen finally returned home to the United States in late 1945, while the sailor was returned to the United States via a neutral country in 1946. They all received the purple heart for their ordeal and bravery, and served as testament to the destruction wrought by the first use of a nuclear weapon.
Did the US give Japan a warning before Hiroshima?
Yes, the United States did give Japan a warning prior to the atomic bomb being dropped on Hiroshima. On July 26, 1945, the United States, Britain, and China issued a joint statement warning Japan that they must agree to the Potsdam Declaration or face “prompt and utter destruction.” The Potsdam Declaration was a document that outlined the surrender terms of the Allied Powers, which included the elimination of Japan’s military power and the occupation of the Japanese Home Islands by Allied forces.
The warning also declared that if Japan did not respond by Aug. 1, 1945, it faced “prompt and utter destruction.” Despite the warning, Japan failed to respond in time, and the United States dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Aug. 6 and Aug. 9, respectively.
Has the US ever apologized for Hiroshima?
Yes, the United States has apologized for the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. In 1995, the 50th anniversary of the bombing, the United States issued an official apology to the survivors of the bombings.
The statement, released by then-President Bill Clinton, said, “We are deeply sorry for the terrible suffering and loss of life caused by our country in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.”
President Obama made a historic visit to Hiroshima in 2016, becoming the first sitting US President to visit the city. During the visit, he did not offer an apology for the bombing, though he spoke of the “awful force” unleashed by the US and attributed motivation to the American leaders at the time as “a sense of a righteous cause, however common such convictions may be.”
The US government has also offered assistance to survivors over the past decades, including through the passage of the Atomic Veterans Compensation Act of 1999, which provided lump sum payments to veterans and their families who had been exposed to radiation during the war.
What percentage of Hiroshima died?
Approximately 70% of the population of Hiroshima died as a result of the atomic bomb detonated by the United States in World War II on August 6, 1945. A further 20% of the population was injured, with many of them suffering from the effects of radiation poisoning.
The death toll is estimated to be between 90,000 – 166,000 people, including both the immediate and long-term casualties of the attack. It is estimated that over two-thirds of Hiroshima’s buildings were either damaged or destroyed.
The impact of the bombing on the civilian population was severe, with many people left homeless and reliant on government and international aid to survive. The full extent of the casualties and devastation of the bombing will never fully be known as many of the official records that would have documented the true number of victims were destroyed in the blast.
What percent of the population died in Hiroshima?
The exact number of casualties from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945 is unknown; however, it is estimated that between 70,000-80,000 people were killed in the blast, resulting in nearly 30% of the city’s population at the time dying in the attack.
To put this in perspective, the city had an estimated population of 350,000 before the blast, meaning that around one in three people in the city were killed.
The death toll from the attack is even higher if you include the people who eventually died from the long term effects of radiation exposure, bringing the death toll to around 90,000-166,000 people. Additionally, around 60,000-70,000 people suffered serious injuries from the blast.
To this day, the impact of the bombing of Hiroshima is still felt in the city, with survivors and their descendants still living in the area to this day.
How many survived Hiroshima before bombing?
At the time of the Hiroshima bombing on August 6, 1945, it is estimated that the population of the city was approximately 345,000 people. This includes both civilians and members of the military. Unfortunately, due to the devastating effects of the atomic bomb, only around 70,000 to 80,000 people survived the attack.
Despite the large death toll, some people within a two kilometers radius of the hypocentre avoided death or serious injury due to a variety of factors. This includes the effects of obstacles such as hills, rivers and bridges, as well as the fact that the bomb exploded 550 meters above the ground, which minimized its destructive effects on the ground below.
Many survivors also sought shelter in underground shelters, which offered some protection from the blast and the intense heat.
How many Japanese died because of the atomic bomb?
The exact number of Japanese people who died as a result of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is not known. Estimates from the Japanese government cite figures between 129,000 and 226,000 people killed.
The number includes both immediate deaths and those due to illnesses and injuries related to radiation exposure. Many of the deaths were civilian, but there were also many Japanese soldiers killed in the blasts.
Additionally, the lives of many thousands of people were permanently changed by the long-term effects of radiation poisoning.
Was the atomic bomb a war crime?
This is a highly contested issue and there is no definitive answer. On one hand, some people view the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 as a war crime because they were disproportionate to the military situation, killed a significant number of civilians, and raised serious ethical, legal, and humanitarian concerns.
The atomic bombs detonated at Hiroshima and Nagasaki are estimated to have killed between 129,000 and 226,000 people. On the other hand, some believe that the use of the atomic bomb was justified because it led to the surrender of Japan and an end to World War II.
In this view, it may not have been a war crime because Japan did not stand to gain anything from the bombings, and the bombings likely saved many lives that would have been lost in an extended conflict.
Ultimately, the answer to this question is up to personal opinion and no definitive answer can be provided.
Are there any survivors of Hiroshima still alive?
Yes, there are a few survivors of the Hiroshima bombing who are still alive today. Many of those who survived the bombing were young children at the time and are now elderly adults. The true number of people who survived will never be known, but according to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, approximately 80,000 to 140,000 people were killed almost immediately in the blast.
Among those who survived were hibakusha, or atomic bomb survivors, a term used to describe anyone who was affected by the bombing and its aftermath.
Although the exact number is not known, there are currently at least 160,000 hibakusha living in Japan, with the majority living in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This includes people who were exposed to the radiation, those who suffered from burns and other injuries, and those who experienced psychological trauma.
According to the A-bomb Survivor’s Medical Care Law, the survivors receive free medical care and have access to other benefits under the law.
The hibakusha are now aging and many have already passed away. However, with the youngest survivors of the bombing being in their late 70s, there are still a few living in Japan today and a few scattered throughout the world.
Some are medical advocates and public speakers, continuing to share their testimony and educate people about the horrors of nuclear war.
