Aberfan disaster photos released ahead of 60th anniversary

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 17 Oct, 13:20 · Archive

Archive photographs of the 1966 Aberfan disaster, in which 144 people died, have been released ahead of the tragedy's 60th anniversary.

On 21 October 1966, coal tip No.7 collapsed in Aberfan, a small mining village near Merthyr Tydfil, after three weeks of heavy rainfall. The collapse sent 150,000 tonnes of slurry into Pantglas Junior School and 19 homes on Moy Road. In total, 144 people were killed, including 116 children, making it one of Britain's worst industrial disasters.

Jeff Edwards, who was eight years old at the time, was the last child rescued alive. He recalls hearing a rumbling noise that grew louder as the ground shook. He was trapped under debris with a dead classmate on his shoulder, his right leg pinned under a radiator with hot water flowing from it. Edwards survived because he had a pocket of air around him that enabled him to breathe.

A national tribunal found that the National Coal Board was to blame for the disaster due to a failure to manage piles of waste safely. No one was prosecuted or demoted following the disaster. Archive photographs from the fire service have now been released ahead of the 60th anniversary, with the King expected to visit the village to mark the occasion next week.

How it is being reported

• Aberfan disaster survivor haunted after being 'buried alive with dead classmate victim on his shoulder'EXCLUSIVE: With next week marking 60 years since a coal tip collapsed on a Welsh mining village, engulfing a school and houses, killing 144 people, the Mirror spoke to four survivorsThe Mirror · 17 Oct, 13:03
• The tragedy that haunted the late queen: Fire service photos of Aberfan disaster that killed 116 children and 28 adults are revealed for first time ahead of 60th anniversaryAfter three weeks of heavy rainfall, at 9.15 am, on October 21, 1966, coal tip No.7 collapsed, sending 150,000 tonnes of slurry barrelling into the primary school and 19 homes in Aberfan.Daily Mail · 17 Oct, 12:45

In this story: Aberfan · Pantglas Junior School · Jeff Edwards · National Coal Board · Merthyr Tydfil · Queen Elizabeth II

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