Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor warns world is now in its 'most dangerous era'

Toshiyuki Mimaki has spent his life campaigning for nuclear disarmament (Image: Getty)

An 83-year-old survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima has issued a stark warning over the safety of the world. Toshiyuki Mimaki, who was only three years old when the US dropped a nuclear bomb on the Japanese city 80 years ago, believes the world is at its most dangerous point.

Mr Mimaki, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, believes the world has failed to take heed of the warnings issued by him and other survivors calling for nuclear disarmament. In a worrying assessment, he said: "Right now is the most dangerous era. Russia might use it [a nuclear weapon], North Korea might use it, China might use it.

Destruction after the atomic bomb on Hiroshima (Image: Getty)

"And President Trump - he's just a huge mess.”

In an interview with Sky News marking the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, he added: "We've been appealing and appealing, for a world without war or nuclear weapons - but they're not listening."

Mr Mimaki sid "there is always a war going on somewhere" and asked: "Why do these animals called humans like war so much?"

The atomic bomb on Hiroshima, western Japan, was the first time a nuclear weapon had been used in conflict.

It is estimated to have killed a harrowing 140,000 people, including 70,000 instantly.

Three days later on August 9, a second atomic bomb was dropped by the US on the city of Nagasaki.

It killed around 73,000 people and ultimately led to Japan’s surrender, marking the end of the Second World War.

Mushroom cloud over Hiroshima after the atomic bomb was dropped (Image: Getty)

Mr Mimaki said when Hiroshima was hit, he was playing outside and saw a "flash".

"We were 17 kilometres away from the hypocentre. I didn't hear a bang, I didn't hear a sound, but I thought it was lightning," he recalled to Sky News.

"Then it was afternoon and people started coming out in droves. Some with their hair all in mess, clothes ragged, some wearing shoes, some not wearing shoes, and asking for water."

The attack destroyed five square miles of the city centre and for four days, Mr Mimaki’s father did not return home from work in the middle of Hiroshima.

He recalled trying to find his father with his mother and younger brother but couldn’t travel far due to the sheer devastation.

Lanterns were lit on the Motoyasu River in Hiroshima to mark 80 years since the atomic bomb (Image: Getty)

Mr Mimaki said: "My father came home on the fourth day.

"He was in the basement [at his place of work]. He was changing into his work clothes. That’s how he survived.

"When he came up to ground level, the city of Hiroshima was no longer there."

On Wednesday, Hiroshima marked 80 years since the atomic bomb which was nicknamed ‘Little Boy’.

About 55,000 people, including representatives from 120 countries and regions, attended the ceremony.

A minute of silence was held while a peace bell rang out at 8.15am local time, the time when a US B-29 dropped the bomb on the city.

It remains unclear how many people died in the following years after the bombs to cancers and other side effects.