hypocenter; ground zero; center of explosion
Refers to the point on the ground directly below a nuclear explosion, or more generally the center of any explosion. Often associated with the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Peace Memorial Park was built at the hypocenter in Hiroshima.
Damage occurred even several kilometers away from the hypocenter.
Compound of 爆 (baku, 'explosion') + 心 (shin, 'center') + 地 (chi, 'ground'). The reading ばくしんち follows standard on'yomi.