145 People Within 500 Meters of Hiroshima Hypocenter Still Alive

Above, the Atomic Dome in Hiroshima. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Incredible as it may seem, but people within 500 meters away from the Hiroshima atomic bomb hypocenter survived. At least 145 of them are still alive.

The Mainichi Shimbun reported:

At least 145 people who were within 500 meters of the hypocenter of the Hiroshima atomic bomb blast are still alive, a Mainichi survey has found -- the first time that the number of people still living after such close exposure to the A-bomb has been revealed. 

In June and July, the Mainichi Shimbun investigated atomic bomb victim record books for people from all 47 prefectures as well as the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki for those whose books listed them as having been within 500 meters of the hypocenter of the Hiroshima bomb on the morning of Aug. 6, 1945.

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum is one of the most popular attractions for foreign tourists to Japan. As the atomic bombing of Hiroshima was an inspiration in the creation of the Godzilla character, the museum is spotlighted in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan on page 44.

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