Japanese man who survived atomic bomb in Hiroshima dies

(Patria) - Shigeaki Mori, who survived the atomic attack on Hiroshima as an eight-year-old and became known after former US President Barack Obama hugged him during his historic visit to that city 10 years ago, has died at the age of 88, local media reported today.

The touching hug between Obama and Mori, who was eight years old when the US dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945, was broadcast by media around the world.

Newspaper Asahi Shimbun and other local media reported that Shigeaki Mori died on Saturday at the age of 88 in a city hospital.

Known for researching the fate of American prisoners of war in Hiroshima, Mori was thrown into a river by the force of the explosion on August 6, 1945.

- When I crawled out of the water, I saw a woman staggering toward me - Mori told AFP in 2016 before meeting Obama at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

- She was covered in blood, and her organs were hanging from her torn abdomen. She was holding them with her hands and asking where she could find a hospital. I ran away crying, leaving her alone.

Those who survived the attack were lying all around me. I ran, stepping over their faces and heads. I heard screams from a destroyed house, but I ran away because I was still a child, unable to help - he recounted then.

In 2016, Obama became the first sitting US president to visit the city and pay a moving tribute to the victims. Shigeaki Mori was overwhelmed with emotion when he shook hands with Obama.

- The president made a move toward me as if to hug me, and we hugged - Mori told reporters afterward.



About 140,000 people died in the bombing of Hiroshima, including those who survived the explosion but later succumbed to the effects of radiation.

Three days later, the United States dropped a plutonium bomb on the port city of Nagasaki, killing about 74,000 people.

These two bombings hastened Japan's surrender and contributed to the end of World War II.