In pics: 70th anniversary of Japan atomic bombings

Japan today marks the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima with the most senior official from Washington ever scheduled to attend memorial ceremonies. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and foreign delegates will be among those observing a moment of silence at 8:15 AM local time (2315 GMT), when the detonation turned the western Japanese city into an inferno.

An American B-29 bomber named Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb, dubbed "Little Boy", on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, in one of the final chapters of World War II. Nearly everything around it was incinerated, with the ground level hit by a wall of heat up to 4,000 degrees Celsius -- hot enough to melt steel. About 140,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the attack, including those who survived the bombing itself but died afterwards due to severe radiation exposure.

70 years of Hiroshima bombings

Japan today marks 70th anniversary of Hiroshima atomic bombings.An American B-29 bomber named Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb, dubbed "Little Boy", on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, in one of the final chapters of World War II.

Japan marks atomic bombings anniversary

About 140,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the attack, including those who survived the bombing itself but died afterwards due to severe radiation exposure.

Hiroshima observes bombing anniversary

Japan today marks the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The bombing took placeat 8:15 AM local time (2315 GMT).

Temperature went up enough to melt steel

Nearly everything around it was incinerated, with the ground level hit by a wall of heat up to 4,000 degrees Celsius -- hot enough to melt steel.