Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki delivered a poignant speech as Japan commemorated the 79th anniversary of the US atomic bombing that devastated the city in 1945. The mayor urged the nation never to forget the horrors of nuclear warfare, emphasising the importance of peace and disarmament.
Speaking at the Peace Park ceremony, Suzuki honoured the over 70,000 victims who perished in the attack, while calling for global leaders to abandon nuclear weapons. "We must ensure Nagasaki remains the last city to suffer such destruction," he declared.
Survivors Share Harrowing Memories
Atomic bomb survivors, now in their 80s and 90s, attended the sombre event. Many shared emotional testimonies about the immediate aftermath of the explosion on August 9, 1945 - three days after Hiroshima was bombed.
Key facts about the Nagasaki bombing:
- Estimated 40,000 killed instantly
- Total deaths reached 70,000 by year's end
- City temperatures reached 4,000°C at ground zero
- Radiation effects persisted for decades
Japan's Peace Pledge
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reiterated Japan's commitment to nuclear non-proliferation, though the nation remains under the US nuclear umbrella. The ceremony concluded with a minute's silence at 11:02 am - the exact moment the bomb detonated.
As fewer survivors remain each year, officials emphasised the urgency of preserving their stories for future generations. The memorial comes amid growing global tensions and nuclear proliferation concerns.
