Putin released a statement in regards to using nuclear weapons (Image: Getty Images)
World leaders and civilians are increasingly concerned about the possibility of World War 3, especially in light of recent events in Russia.
A newly released map details the catastrophic impact on the UK if nuclear bombs were to strike specific locations.
Over the weekend, British forces played a key role in intercepting drones and missiles that Iran launched towards Israel. There are also whispers that the UK has deployed long-range missiles into Russia amidst their prolonged conflict with Ukraine.
In a significant move, Vladimir Putin has confirmed a policy that authorizes the use of nuclear weapons should Russia feel “threatened.”
Meanwhile, the UK is openly supporting Ukraine and Israel against adversaries like Putin’s Russia, Hamas, and Iran.
If you can’t see the map, click here.
According to the maps, the nuclear blasts would go beyond central London, also effecting Zones 2 and 3 (Image: Daily Star )
The year 2024 is buzzing with talk of a potential WW3 for these reasons. To put this into perspective, the Hiroshima bomb dropped by Oppenheimer in 1945 had a yield of just 13 kilotons.
In comparison, the average US nuclear weapon has a yield of 200 kilotons, while the UK’s Trident II D5 ballistic missile boasts a power of 100 kilotons.
If such a bomb were to be detonated, the immediate area would be consumed by what is known as the “fireball radius.”
This means that everything within this zone would be vaporised due to the immense nuclear force, leaving nothing behind and causing instant death to all within.
With a blast centered on Trafalgar Square, this zone would extend 6.71km, effectively wiping out areas such as Clapham, Brixton, Kilburn, Camden Town, Islington, and Hackney.
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The map shows the nuclear blast radius from London (Image: Daily Star)
Questions are swirling about the repercussions of a nuclear war reaching the UK, prompting inquiries about the safest and most perilous places in the event of a nuclear attack. An interactive map provides some stark answers.
The capital city, Greater London, is particularly at risk. Defense officials from the government have pinpointed 38 towns and cities in Britain as “probable nuclear targets” if World War 3 were to erupt.
Given London’s history and status, it stands out as a likely initial target for Putin.
Currently, London is home to 8.8 million people, accounting for approximately 13% of the UK’s population. If a nuclear weapon were to be detonated in the heart of London, it would likely hit Trafalgar Square, which is located near the National Portrait Gallery and Buckingham Palace.
For this scenario, we’re assuming that Putin would deploy the fearsome Tsar Bomba, the largest bomb ever designed by the USSR. Although it has never been used, its warhead yield is an astounding 100,000 kilotons.
Half of Wales would be decimated if Cardiff was struck (Image: Daily Star)
Westminster would be destroyed, along with all of London’s iconic landmarks. There would be no chance of survival within the fireball radius.
Parts of Zone 2 and beyond into Zone 3 have a marginally better chance of survival, as they fall within the “moderate blast damage radius.”
Despite its name, the destruction in this zone is anything but moderate. With the majority of residential buildings collapsing, injuries and fatalities are widespread.
The subsequent radius encompasses nearly half of Surrey. Over in Essex, Chelmsford, Southend-on-Sea, along with Buckinghamshire’s High Wycombe and even half of Milton Keynes are situated in the next level down, the thermal radiation radius.
As per the official Nukemap, residents here can anticipate: “Third degree burns extend throughout the layers of skin, and are often painless because they destroy the pain nerves. They can cause severe scarring or disablement, and can require amputation.”
The Northwest would be seriously impacted if Manchester was struck (Image: Daily Star)
Following this, the light blast damage radius covers the remainder of Milton Keynes, Oxford, Cambridge, Colchester, Canterbury, Brighton and their surrounding areas. Inhabitants here will witness the initial flash from the bomb.
Glass windows would shatter, causing several injuries. While not free from radiation, this zone is typically used as a reference point for light damage in cities.
The initial bomb’s reign of terror would conclude in Winchester, the city closest to the damage that lies just outside the radius zones. Portsmouth, Salisbury, Ipswich and Ely are also safe.
Historically, potential targets for the Soviet Union in the 1970s were believed to include Central London, Edinburgh, Teesside, Leicester, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Hull, York, Dover, Cambridge, Maidstone, Huddersfield, Wolverhampton, Coventry, and Sheffield.
Vladimir Putin has issued a warning that he now possesses a new Oreshnik hypersonic missile. The Times of Ukraine channel on Telegram has raised alarm bells, stating that this missile could reach British soil in just 20 minutes, suggesting that the Oreshnik might be a rebranded version of the old Cold War intercontinental RS-26 Rubezh missile.
However, it’s reported that the missile is still experimental and Russia only has a few of them. It’s also important to note that this is not a nuclear weapon.
Previously, it was believed that Putin had approximately 5,580 nuclear warheads. In comparison, the US has 5,044, while the UK has an estimated 225.