The 70th anniversary of the first atomic bomb dropped by a U.S. aircraft on Hiroshima, Japan, was commemorated on August 6. Thoussands of lanterns were released on Hiroshima’s Motoyasu river after a ceremony, attended by Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, was held at Hiroshima’s memorial park.

The bombing is credited with bringing an end to World War II, but it claimed the lives of at least 140,000 people in the city and even more lives when a second bomb was dropped at Nagasaki, three days later.

The US B-29 bomber called the Enola Gay dropped the bomb at around 8.10 a.m. on August 6, 1945. 70,000 died on the spot and more so in the days, weeks and months afterwards. Survivors were also afflicted with disease and suffering.