Even if you are not a history enthusiast, you would have heard about the nuclear bombings in Japan during the end of World War. The two cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan were reduced to dust with the nuclear bombs launched by the US. It was the deadliest weapon ever and August 9, 2018, marks the 73rd anniversary of the atomic bombing. People in Japan observed a memorial service to mark this black day in their history.

More than 70,000 people died in the year 1945 after the bombing due to the long-term effects. Some people are still experiencing the ill-effects in the form of deformities due to the nuclear bombs. The anniversary marks the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons which was adopted at the UN last year. Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Whither Nuclear Disarmament?

Take a look at one of the videos about the atomic bombing of Nagasaki:

On the 73rd anniversary, look at some facts about the atomic bombings:

  • The bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki was called Fat Man. Its detonation marked the third-ever man-made nuclear explosion in the history. It was detonated at 11.02 am on August 9, 1945. It was supposed to be more powerful than the one dropped in Hiroshima.

  • This bombing destroyed the innermost parts of the largest city in the prefecture of Nagasaki, killing between 60,000 and 80,000 people. The exact figures are not known but there were a lot more casualties.

  • After the first bombing in Hiroshima, police went to Nagasaki to teach them about ducking. As a result, not a single policeman from Nagasaki died in the second bombing.

  • Since the year 1964, a flame of peace has been burning in Hiroshima, to honour the victims of the nuclear bombing. It is said the flame will only extinguish when all the nuclear threats are eliminated from the earth.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 09, 2018 11:18 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).