On August 6th, Japan commemorated the 70th anniversary of the Hiroshima nuclear bombing that prompted the end of World War II in 1945.
70 years ago, a US B-29 bomber, Enola Gay, dropped the 16 kiloton uranium bomb nicknamed "Little Boy" at the City of Hiroshima - which held Japan's major army base, killing about 70,000 people instantly.
According to BBC, the explosion went up to 1,800 feet above the city, reaching the temperature of 60 million degrees. An estimated total of 140,000 people were killed due to the attack, including those who suffered injuries and later died in radiation poisoning.
The nuclear attack was then followed by another bombing in Nagasaki three days later - a conclusion to the Second World War that lasted for six years.
To mark the anniversary, a ceremony was held at Hiroshima's Peace Park, located meters away from the epicenter of the 1945 attack.
Attended by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, 40,000 people gathered at the commemoration for silent prayers, releasing of doves and declarations of peace.
"Today Hiroshima has been revived and has become a city of culture and prosperity," the Prime Minister said in his speech. "Seventy years on I want to reemphasise the necessity of world peace."
Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui also spoke about the "absolute evil" brought by nuclear weapons, calling on nations to cease the attacks.
"To coexist we must abolish the... ultimate inhumanity that is nuclear weapons. Now is the time to start taking action," he stated.
As part of the commemoration, the Japanese offered a minute of silence at 8:15 am local time, which was the exact time the bomb was dropped. Attendees at the ceremony also released thousands of paper lanterns across Hiroshima's Motoyasu River to symbolize the afterlife journey of the World War II victims.
US Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy also graced Thursday's event.
