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Japan remembers Nagasaki atomic bomb, 70 years on | Japan remembers Nagasaki atomic bomb, 70 years on |
(34 minutes later) | |
The Japanese city of Nagasaki is marking 70 years since the dropping of an atomic bomb by the United States. | The Japanese city of Nagasaki is marking 70 years since the dropping of an atomic bomb by the United States. |
A ceremony there will observe a minute's silence, followed by speeches by the Nagasaki mayor and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. | A ceremony there will observe a minute's silence, followed by speeches by the Nagasaki mayor and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. |
A cathedral that was destroyed by the bomb but later rebuilt celebrated a remembrance Mass. | A cathedral that was destroyed by the bomb but later rebuilt celebrated a remembrance Mass. |
At least 70,000 people died in the attack, which came three days after another bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. | At least 70,000 people died in the attack, which came three days after another bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. |
Nagasaki was only chosen because the original target, Kokura, was obscured by a cloud. | Nagasaki was only chosen because the original target, Kokura, was obscured by a cloud. |
A solemn ceremony began on Sunday with a declaration read out by children, followed by the sounding of bells. | |
A minute's silence will mark the time of the explosion at 11:02 (02:02 GMT). | |
US ambassador Caroline Kennedy was expected to attend the commemorations in Nagasaki. | |
'Thunder in a clear sky' | 'Thunder in a clear sky' |
The effects of the bomb were instant and devastating. It destroyed a third of the city, killing thousands instantly and condemning more to death from radiation sickness. | The effects of the bomb were instant and devastating. It destroyed a third of the city, killing thousands instantly and condemning more to death from radiation sickness. |
Days later, Japan surrendered, ending World War II, although the necessity of the two bombs has been debated ever since. | Days later, Japan surrendered, ending World War II, although the necessity of the two bombs has been debated ever since. |
"It was a clear, sunny day and there was a sudden, blinding flash," remembered one Nagasaki survivor, Toru Mine, who now guides visitors at a museum dedicated to the event. | "It was a clear, sunny day and there was a sudden, blinding flash," remembered one Nagasaki survivor, Toru Mine, who now guides visitors at a museum dedicated to the event. |
"My first thought was that it should be a thunder, but I soon realised it's bizarre to have a thunder in a clear sky." | "My first thought was that it should be a thunder, but I soon realised it's bizarre to have a thunder in a clear sky." |
Another survivor, 86-year-old Sumiteru Taniguchi, still bears scars on his back, the remains of three ribs that half rotted after the bomb dropped protruding from his chest. | Another survivor, 86-year-old Sumiteru Taniguchi, still bears scars on his back, the remains of three ribs that half rotted after the bomb dropped protruding from his chest. |
''While people around me were dying, I lived. People say I survived but I think I was kept alive. I am still suffering," he said. | ''While people around me were dying, I lived. People say I survived but I think I was kept alive. I am still suffering," he said. |
Prime Minister Abe used his speech during a ceremony at Hiroshima to call for worldwide nuclear disarmament. | Prime Minister Abe used his speech during a ceremony at Hiroshima to call for worldwide nuclear disarmament. |
"Seventy years on I want to re-emphasise the necessity of world peace," he said. | "Seventy years on I want to re-emphasise the necessity of world peace," he said. |