One hundred thousand Japanese may have been killed or wounded by the single atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. This was the unofficial estimate at Guam to-night after reports of the tremendous devastation wrought had come in. On this basis, it would need only a thousand atomic bombs (which could easily be carried in a single raid) to wipe out the whole Japanese nation. The full effect of a single atomic bomb could be fairly judged to-night as reports of the attack on Hiroshima came in from Allied sources.
The crew of the Super-Fortress 170 miles from the target saw a tremendous flash as the bomb hit the city.
Photographs show that four and one-tenth square miles ╤ 60 per cent of the city╒s built-up area ╤ is completely destroyed. Only a few skeletons of buildings are shown standing.
No crater is visible in the photographs but it seems that terrific heat from the bomb kindled tremendous fires which, while hot, swept over streets.
Tokio radio said: ╥The authorities are still unable to obtain a definite check on the extent of the casualties. Medical relief agencies from neighbouring districts could not distinguish ╤ much less identify ╤ the dead from the injured. The impact of the bomb was so terrific that practically all living things ╤ human and animal ╤ were literally seared to death by the tremendous heat and pressure set up by the blast. All the dead and injured were burned beyond recognition. Those outdoors were burned to death, while those indoors were killed by the indescribable pressure and heat.╙
