| Description |
Looking west from the Hiroshima Prefectural Commerce, Industry, and Economy Association (upstream on the left bank of the Honkawa River). The brick rubble in the foreground is the Hiroshima Electric Railway's Yaguranoshita substation, which was severely damaged and never restored. The building in the upper part of the photo is Honkawa National Elementary School, the closest school to the hypocenter and which was severely damaged by the blast and intense fire. However, it did not collapse and was reopened in February 1946 (Showa 21) and used until it was rebuilt in June 1987 (Showa 62). Today, the basement and one classroom on the first floor of the original school remain, and they are open to the public as Honkawa Elementary School Peace Museum. It is used as a place for many students on school excursions to learn about peace. Aioi Bridge in the center lost most of its parapets from the blast. The blast reflected on the water surface and created peaked folds in the sidewalk. Breaches of more than one meter was created on the sidewalk and roadway, utility poles collapsed in all directions, and the train tracks on the west side was displaced. |
