Thousands gathered in Hiroshima, Japan, on Wednesday to mark 80 years since the world’s first atomic attack. At 8:15 a.m.—the exact moment the bomb struck in 1945—a solemn silence fell over Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, where representatives from 120 countries, including nuclear powers like the U.S. and Israel, paid tribute to the victims.
On August 6, 1945, the U.S. dropped the uranium bomb “Little Boy” on Hiroshima, a key military supply hub during World War II. The blast, magnified by surrounding mountains, unleashed 4,000°C (7,200°F) heatwaves and lethal radiation, killing 78,000 people immediately and tens of thousands more by year’s end. Three days later, Nagasaki was bombed, leading to Japan’s surrender on August 15.
Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui condemned the global surge in nuclear stockpiling, noting that the U.S. and Russia alone hold 90% of the world’s warheads. “Leaders now believe nukes are necessary for security—this erases history’s lessons and endangers peace,” he said, urging politicians to witness Hiroshima’s scars firsthand.
The anniversary comes amid rising global tensions and arms races. Matsui’s plea echoed across the memorial: “Humanity must choose dialogue over destruction.” As survivors age, their message grows more urgent—nuclear weapons must never be used again.