Shadows of Death: Grim Reminders of Atomic Bombing in Hiroshima

Tens of thousands of people, most of them civilians, perished as a result of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, three days later, some of them perishing during the blast while others died because of radiation poisoning.

To this day, various landmarks in Hiroshima serve as grim reminders of that tragedy due to the outlines of objects or even people that became imprinted on some surfaces during the nuclear blast.

Explore Sputnik's photo gallery to find out more:

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The nuclear bomb dropped at Hiroshima killed approximately 140,000 of the city's 350,000 residents.

Above: Human shadow on stone by atomic bombing on Hiroshima - Sumitomo Bank, Hiroshima branch - around December 1946.

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The shadow of a handle on a gasometer left an imprint after the 06 August 1945 atomic bomb explosion, two kilometers away from the hypocenter in Hiroshima 15 October 1945.

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Three days later, another nuclear bomb was dropped by the United States on the Japanese city of Nagasaki.

Above: Shadows of the railing imprinted on the surface of a bridge in Hiroshima during the nuclear blast.

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The survivors of the nuclear bombings became known in Japan as hibakusha; they got subjected to discrimination in the country due to public attitude towards the consequences of radiation sickness.

Above: Hiroshima Branch of Sumitomo Bank after the bombing, the original location of the so-called Human Shadow of Death.

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The post office savings bank in Hiroshima features shadows from the atomic bomb’s scorching light.

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Nearly eight decades since the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the United States refuses to apologize to Japan for these atrocities.

Above: Flash burns on steps of Sumitomo Bank Company, Hiroshima branch.

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In Hiroshima, gas tanks showing shadowing effects of the flash on asphalt paint.