Boston city centre sits 0 m from Boston (Route 128 tech), the most plausible strategic target in the area (medium targeting confidence). Modelled strike: 300 kt airburst.
Estimated survival chance at city centre: 0% · Estimated metro fatalities: 187.2K, injuries: 225.5K
What a strike on Boston (Route 128 tech) would mean
A 300 kt detonation produces a fireball 646 m across in radius. Reinforced concrete fails out to 2.3 km (20 psi). Most residential buildings collapse within 4.6 km (5 psi), and windows shatter dangerously out to 10.4 km (1 psi). Anyone in line of sight within 6.9 km suffers third-degree burns from the thermal pulse.
An airburst maximises blast damage but produces minimal local fallout, so for Boston the dominant risks are blast and thermal effects rather than radiation.
Most plausible targets near Boston
| Target | Type | Distance | Assumed yield | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston (Route 128 tech) | city | 0 km | 300 kt | medium |
| Manhattan financial district | city | 307 km | 800 kt | high |
| Port of NY & New Jersey | port | 312 km | 300 kt | high |
| JFK, New York | airport | 296 km | 150 kt | medium |
| 60 Hudson St, New York | communication | 306 km | 100 kt | low |
Key blast radii (300 kt airburst)
| Effect | Radius | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Fireball | 646 m | Complete vaporisation |
| 20 psi blast | 2.3 km | Hardened structures destroyed, ~100% fatalities |
| 5 psi blast | 4.6 km | Most buildings collapse, widespread fatalities |
| 3rd-degree burns | 6.9 km | Full-thickness burns to exposed skin |
| 500 rem radiation | 2.4 km | Lethal dose without medical care |
| 1 psi blast | 10.4 km | Window breakage, light damage, glass injuries |
How Boston can prepare
With a population density of 5,400 people/km², Boston's outcome would hinge on the first hour. The guidance is identical everywhere: get inside, stay inside, stay tuned. A basement or the core of a large concrete building cuts fallout exposure by a factor of 10 or more, and radiation decays fast — dose rates fall ~90% within the first 7 hours and ~99% within two days.
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