Catastrophic Fallout: How a Nuclear Bomb Would Destroy New York City—A Map Analysis

A chilling map created by nuclearsecrecy.com reveals the catastrophic consequences of a nuclear bomb detonation in New York City. The maps, which depict the aftermath of nuclear explosions in major cities worldwide, were developed with help from Alex Wellerstein, a nuclear historian at Stevens Institute of Technology.

If a weapon similar to the “Fat Man” – the bomb unleashed on Nagasaki by the United States on August 9, 1945 – were to explode in New York, the devastation would be immense, according to the map . The “Fat Man” had a yield of 20 kilotons.

Wallerstein’s expert map modeling indicates that such a horrific event would lead to the deaths of 287,660 individuals and inflict 515,160 injuries. The light blast damage radius would reach as far as Jersey City, resulting in shattered windows and potential injuries, despite being the “lightest” impact of a nuclear bomb explosion.

The fireball radius caused by the hypothetical explosion would primarily impact Soho and Noho. According to the map, this reaction would instantly vaporize anything within its radius, reaching a minimum height of 597.113 feet.

The devastating effect of a heavy blast would extend for half a mile, causing severe damage or complete destruction to concrete structures. The map shows that the Little Italy area would suffer the most from such an explosion, which would almost certainly result in a 100 percent fatality rate, reports the Irish Star .

The radiation fallout from the detonation would spread over two miles, likely proving fatal to most inhabitants of Greenwich Village and Hudson Square. According to estimates, 15 percent of survivors would succumb within a month due to cancer caused by the radiation levels.

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The moderate blast damage radius, as per the model, would extend for 3.5 miles, leading to the collapse of most residential buildings and widespread fatalities. The likelihood of fires spreading would also increase, exacerbating the devastation.

The thermal radiation radius would extend nearly six miles, ensuring third-degree burns with absolute certainty. Interestingly, victims often don’t feel pain from these burns as the nerves responsible for transmitting pain signals are destroyed.

The radiation spread is shown to reach as far as the Meat Packing District.

Fortunately, these scenarios remain purely hypothetical, with the probability of such weapons being deployed remaining extremely low.

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