Physical destruction in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, chapter 1

Atomic bombs, for the first time in human history, were dropped on Hiroshima in August 6, and on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. Though the powers of these bombs were far small as compared with those of present day nuclear weapons, the atomic bombs claimed many lives instantaneously, damaged human bodies, and destroyed all objects, annihilating the urban areas. Even today, the dreadful consequences of the bombings still remain in both body and mind of the victims. Meanwhile, the experiences of atomic bomb disasters are fading constantly. In order to maintain the vivid information, in Part 1 ''physical destruction'', the following matters are described: dropping of the atomic bombs, atomic bombs and heat rays, blast due to atomic bombing, damages due to heat rays, blast and fire, radiation from the atomic bombings, and weather on the days of atomic bombings. (J.P.N.)