The Aberfan disaster in pictures: The true story of the tragedy that shocked Wales in 1966!

In 1966, a terrible tragedy occurred in Aberfan, a small village in Wales, and shook the whole of England .

The Aberfan disaster , caused by the collapse of a mine dump, claimed the lives of 144 people, most of them children. This heartbreaking incident not only exposed the dangers of the coal mining industry but also demonstrated the community's deep spirit of resilience and solidarity.

The Aberfan disaster is one of the most tragic events in British history, occurring on October 21, 1966 in the village of Aberfan in Wales. The collapse of the coal mine dump took the lives of 144 people, including 116 children , leaving an indelible wound in the community and the nation.

As students at Pantglas Primary School began their math lesson, a terrifying rumble rang out. In just a few minutes, tons of liquid coal waste poured down from the hillside, flattening the school and neighboring houses.

Amid the chaos, eight-year-old Jeff Edwards found himself trapped in a mess. For nearly two hours, the boy struggled to breathe, crushed by his desk and surrounded by the bodies of his classmates. Finally, a firefighter spotted Jeff's blond hair sticking out of the rubble and pulled him out.

Jeff was the last child to be rescued, the tenth survivor. The tragedy claimed the lives of 144 people, most of them children. The Aberfan disaster, caused by a combination of heavy rain and the inappropriate location of a mine waste dump, remains to this day one of the darkest pages in British history.

Aberfan is a small village with a population of about 5,000 people, relying mainly on the coal mining industry. The Merthyr Vale coal mine , located just above the village, is the main source of income for many families. However, coal mining activities also pose many dangers, especially from landfill disposal.

Coal was once the mainstay of industry in South Wales, supporting many communities that relied on high-quality bituminous coal deep in the valleys and hills.

Among these communities is Aberfan, a village near Merthyr Tydfil, about 20 miles northwest of Cardiff. Established in 1875, Aberfan's Merthyr Vale Colliery became the largest coal mine in the South Wales Coalfield, and accordingly produced huge amounts of waste.

For half a century, this waste was dumped in dumps on the slopes of Mount Merthyr, just above Aberfan. The underground geology of this area consists of sandstone filled with underground water springs.

There are seven hill waste dumps above Aberfan; Waste dump No. 7 - Dump No. 7 - the landslide dump into the village - was started to be built in 1958 and by the time of the disaster, was 34 meters high.

Contrary to National Coal Board (NCB) procedures, part of the landfill is built on ground with underground water.

After three weeks of heavy rain, the landfill became saturated and approximately 140,000 cubic yards (110,000 m^3) of waste slid down the hillside and onto the Pantglas Primary School site. The flow destroyed two water pipes buried under the levee and additional water continued to saturate the landfill.

People who heard the landslide said the sound reminded them of low-flying jets or thunder.

On the morning of October 21, 1966, after several days of heavy rain, a large amount of coal slurry from the Merthyr Vale mining dump suddenly collapsed into the village of Aberfan. A torrent of mud crashed into Pantglas Primary School , burying 116 students and 5 teachers. In addition, the disaster also claimed the lives of 28 other people in the village.

The Aberfan disaster was a great shock to the Aberfan community and the whole of England. The pain of losing loved ones, especially children, covers the entire village. Many families lost all their children, making Aberfan's future gloomy.

Immediately after the disaster occurred, the British government mobilized rescue forces and provided emergency support to Aberfan. Queen Elizabeth II also visited the village to offer condolences to the people and encourage them to overcome difficulties.

An investigation after the Aberfan disaster concluded that the main cause was the NCB (National Coal Board)'s failure to implement the necessary safety measures to ensure the safety of the dump. NCB has been heavily criticized for their negligence, leading to tragic consequences.

The Aberfan disaster left many lasting consequences for the Aberfan community. Many people struggle with the pain of loss and psychological trauma. Aberfan's heartbreak will never fade away.

The Aberfan disaster is an expensive lesson about the importance of ensuring safety in mining operations. The incident also shows the community's spirit of solidarity and mutual support during difficult times.

Today, in Aberfan there is a memorial site to commemorate the victims of the disaster. On October 21 every year, the people of Aberfan hold a memorial service to remember the deceased and remind them of this valuable historical lesson.

The Aberfan disaster was an unforgettable, tragic event. The incident is a wake-up call about the importance of ensuring safety and responsibility in mining operations. Aberfan's trauma will forever be a painful memory in the hearts of the community and the nation.