The Hiroshima district court in Japan recently acknowledged 84 survivors of the infamous “black rain,” a hazardous fallout from the nuclear explosions of 1945. The survivors, known as Hibakusha in Japanese, can now receive benefits such as free healthcare. This news is crucial as it opens the avenue for other potential survivors to receive similar recognition and assistance.
The Catastrophic Nuclear Explosion: Unveiling the History
At the end of World War II in 1945, atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the USA on August 6th and 9th respectively. The year 2020 marked the 75th anniversary of this somber incident. The explosion and immediate firestorms led to the death of approximately 80,000 individuals in Hiroshima and 40,000 in Nagasaki. In the years that followed, thousands more died due to exposure to radiation and the lethal after-effects of the black rain.
Understanding Black Rain: An Aftermath of Nuclear Blast
Following the nuclear detonations, debris and soot from the 69% of buildings destroyed in Hiroshima mixed with radioactive fallout, reaching high into the atmosphere. It resulted in a mushroom cloud which subsequently condensed with atmospheric vapor that fell back to earth in the form of black rain. Described by survivors as large, greasy drops heavier than typical rain, this dark liquid was laden with radioactivity. Interestingly, despite Nagasaki being hit with a more powerful atomic bomb, it witnessed less black rain due to its geographical positioning between hills and the lack of resultant firestorms.
Consequences of Exposure to Black Rain
The negative effects of black rain were numerous and severe. Being loaded with highly radioactive material, everything it came into contact with was contaminated. Dead fish were spotted in water bodies, and sickly cattle were found lying in fields. The black rain was reported to reach as far as 29 km from ground zero, the point on the Earth’s surface directly below the nuclear detonation, also referred to as the hypocenter. Acute Radiation Symptoms (ARS) were manifested in people exposed to the black rain. Symptoms included nausea, diarrhea, fever, sore throat, and hair loss. Over time, many of these individuals developed cancer.
Recognition of Survivors and Government Measures
In 1976, based on a 1945 study, Japan defined the area within which people affected by black rain were granted the status of nuclear blast survivors. This permitted residents from the time of the black rain to access free medical care and other benefits if they exhibited signs of radiation exposure. However, subsequent studies proposed that the black rain may have covered an area nearly four times the size defined by the government. It has also been suggested that those who moved into the area at a later time could too suffer from the radioactive contamination caused by the rain.
The Impact of the Hiroshima Court Ruling
The significant ruling by the Hiroshima District Court comes as a source of hope for many others. Recognizing the plaintiffs as Hibakusha, or survivors of the nuclear blasts, implies that the government may need to reconsider and potentially expand its definition of who can be recognized as a survivor of the atomic bomb.
