Ground zero refers to the exact location where an explosion occurs, typically the point on the earth's surface directly above, below, or at which a nuclear or other powerful explosion happens. It is the site of the most intense damage, with destruction decreasing as distance from ground zero increases
. Originally a military term used mainly in connection with nuclear detonations, such as the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II, the term has since been extended to other catastrophic events. For example, the area of the destroyed World Trade Center buildings after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks is commonly called Ground Zero
. The term can also be used figuratively to describe the starting point or central focus of an intense event or activity
. In summary, ground zero is the precise point of an explosion or disaster, often marked by the greatest destruction and used symbolically to denote the epicenter of a significant event
