DAMN: The Double Atomic Wedgie Of A So-Called Life

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TELEGRAPH: Tsutomu Yamaguchi had already been a certified hibakusha, or radiation survivor, of the Aug 9, 1945, atomic bombing in Nagasaki. But officials have now confirmed that he also survived the attack on Hiroshima three days earlier. Mr Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima on a business trip on Aug 6, 1945, when a US B-29 dropped an atomic bomb on the city. He then returned to his home in Nagasaki just in time for the second attack, officials said. “As far as we know, he is the first one to be officially recognised as a survivor of atomic bombings in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki,” said Toshiro Miyamoto, a Nagasaki city official. “It’s such an unfortunate case, but it is possible that there are more people like him.” Certification qualifies survivors for government compensation – including monthly allowances, free medical checkups and funeral costs – but Mr Yamaguchi’s compensation will not increase, Mr Miyamoto said. Mr Yamaguchi is one of about 260,000 people who survived the attacks, which killed 140,000 in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki. MORE

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