ISTANBUL

The number of recognized atomic bomb survivors in the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki has fallen below 100,000 for the first time, Kyodo News reported Tuesday, citing government data.

As of the end of March, there were 99,130 survivors registered with victim certificates, marking a decline of 7,695 from the previous year, according to data from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. The average age increased 0.55 years to 86.13.

The ministry noted that the Hiroshima Prefecture had the largest number of victim certificate holders at 48,310, followed by Nagasaki with 23,543 and Fukuoka with 3,957.

In 1957, the number of certificate holders was about 200,000, rising to a peak of more than 372,000 in 1980 before steadily declining. The count dropped below 300,000 in 1999 and under 200,000 by 2013.

Since victim certificates began being issued in 1957, the ministry has annually reported the number of living atomic bomb survivors as of the end of March.

The US dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, killing 140,000 victims. A second bomb hit Nagasaki on Aug. 9, killing an additional 70,000.

Japan surrendered days later, ending World War II.​​​​​​​