The Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima was again on full display Friday at the tail end of six months of preservation work that includes a new coat of paint similar in color to what it was like immediately after the 1945 bombing,
The skeletal remains of the only major building left standing in the area following the explosion on Aug. 6, 1945, was again clearly visible to the public after scaffolding that had surrounded the structure was removed.
This is the fifth time preservation work has been done on the UNESCO World Heritage site. The discolored steel material of its distinctive domed roof and spiral staircase was repainted with a dark brown color that is believed to be a more faithful replication of the original color, based on photographs taken by the United States after the bombing, according to city officials.
The work also involved repairing cracks in the brick joints of the building and the concrete used to support the window frames.
The city originally planned to complete the preservation work by last year's 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing, but it was delayed due in part to a labor shortage in the construction industry, the officials said.
"We are relieved that we've finally finished. We look forward to welcoming many visitors back once the coronavirus pandemic has subsided," one of the officials said.