Aberfan remembered: Disaster in the Welsh valleys - BBC News

At quarter past nine this morning - 50 years to the moment - silence fell over Aberfan, as the village remembered the disaster that claimed the lives of 116 children and 28 adults. They died when a mountain of coalmining waste collapsed and engulfed the primary school and houses. Survivors, and relatives of those who died, were at the ceremony this morning, and more events will be held throughout the day
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[@Lenyxx3]

I can’t believe i never heard of this disaster til I started watching season 3 of the crown today. So terrible, so sad, such a tragedy.

[@ryan6881]

A Smith same! It was so sad. Those poor people

[@danielalima3594]

The same thing happened twice at the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. First time was at Mariana (2015) and the second time Brumadinho (2019).

[@randymanmaximus8419]

Same here. Quite a horrible day

[@justsophiejane]

The reason I’m here researching about it is because I’ve just watched that episode on The Crown! I’ve never heard about it before. Absolutely awful. A tragedy.

[@Katwoman4318]

♥️

[@jessiecastle1868]

Just finished The Crown's third episode of season 3 and I feel like more people should know about this sad disaster.

[@MrSalvia18]

filmed in Cwaman

[@peterd788]

It was a terrible tragedy.

[@katieperry3998]

Fuck that stupid programme, the bloody crown!!!

[@badbich204]

@@katieperry3998 Stay mad

[@Katwoman4318]

♥️

[@b-lodeedee]

Watching 'The Crown' brought me here. I wanted to learn more about this disaster. Horrible.

[@Dogmavis]

me too from brazil, here we had a disaster, brumadinho

[@Katwoman4318]

Terrible.

[@alexandrachitty1287]

Sounds like it has for a lot of people. I guess it's good to see a show providing education as well as entertainment. Unfortunately this tragedy needed no dramatisation to compel its audience with horror and sadness.

[@mark.e.p]

I'm 62 and these children were my age at the time. I remember it so well, it's so so sad. It still brings a tear to my eye. I don't live there, l'm not even Welsh but these young children seem like a part of me. One day l will visit and pay my respects from England. God bless and rest in peace.

[@helloalfie127]

i'm from llanelli which is only a few hours away and every year our school goes on a trip there and remember the disaster

[@kahuna3901]

Well said

[@sallyvanderbosch6488]

I have lived in the Chicago area for 25 years at least and I am Welsh/English, my fathers family are from Ynysybwl, Nr. Pontypridd and 10 miles from Aberfan, i was sent to Wales for school holidays and heard about Aberfan for years, my family - The Hardings with the gas station in Ynysybwl, knew everyone or someone affected by this disaster - I was shocked about it being depicted on the Crown 3rd episode, at first not sure if I read it correctly - it was powerful and did justice to this terrible disaster, I was 5 years old at the time, my sisters remembered it as they were 12 and 13 years old. I immediately called all my family yesterday and will go to Aberfan now when I am home in March - it's like "our 911" - it doesn't shock me Americans have not heard of it, we only get USA news here now, let alone in 1966!!! I cannot believe they collected close to 25M pounds or some ungodly amount and ended up not giving that money to the families of this terrible disaster (they got some stupid amount, like $200) - how they could live with themselves is beyond bad. This was pivotal in the Queen's reign - she took too long to visit, one that she regrets today and has gone back I understand many times since. That and the death of Diana, when the public urged her to come back to London - she is a great queen and I am a huge fan. Thank you for The Crown for highlighting this terrible Welsh disaster that took place, they did a good job covering this terrible time in history for us and my wishes are with the families and that generation of children that were wiped out - I will come and pay my respects when back home xoxo

[@burney7418]

Those parents digging for their children just too sad :-(

[@tessafairweather9969]

This tragedy was entirely predictable & the authorities had ignored the warnings. Government then charged the community for removing the menace, although the funds have since been repaid in full-about 40 years on. The lesson? Always hold authority to account & don't let them get away with lies, half truths & obfuscation.

[@terrythomas1329]

My dad was nearby at the time in a coal carrying tipper truck (empty at the time) and because of the delay in reporting at the time drove away from the scene, he's now almost 90 and still regrets not turning round - even though he never knew of the incident until around 4 hours later when it came on National News.

[@lydiah2353]

Like others I also have never heard of this disaster until I watched episode 3 of the crown. My heart goes out to the entire community and those who lost their loved ones.

[@MayPatelBehme]

The people raised their concerns numerous times... Just like those who lived in Grenfell Towers. When are they going to listen to people's concerns. Lessons are not being learnt.

[@sarawashington5485]

The Crown - Season 3 brought me here :(

[@slepagienia248]

Not only you... ☹️

[@Katwoman4318]

♥️

[@sarawashington5485]

@@Katwoman4318 👍😊

[@maryjoclarke3165]

I remember hearing about this when I was 9 years old living in Belfast remember saying prayers in school for all that perished that dreadful day

[@anenglishmanplusamerican7107]

I attribute the disaster in the village of Aberfan to the National Coal Board - it was an entirely avoidable tragedy, and the lives of those children could have been spared. As an Englishman, it deeply saddens me to acknowledge that we have made regrettable mistakes in history, and this incident stands out as one of them. On a somewhat unrelated note, as a blind person, I also experience the challenges posed by governmental officials and individuals prioritizing their own interests over others. The indifference displayed by politicians and influential figures in previous centuries was, unfortunately, not an isolated case. My writing resonates with solidarity and sadness for the victims of these historical and ongoing injustices.

[@keithburnett-i7f]

I remember coming home from school & my mother telling me about this tragedy. I was four years old. I watched the episode on The Crown & was moved to tears. RIP little angles🌹

[@geoffjones9899]

i was 13 when this happened and remember it as if it was yesterday so tragic

[@seesidesummerhouse6112]

Absolutely tragic. I can’t even imagine what it must have been like for the people involved.

[@vidhiasaxena]

Without watching the crown I wouldn't have ever known about this disaster :(

[@JAYNAIREDITS]

same here

[@chapristii]

This is so sad... Such an awful tragedy

[@johnhuwroberts7766]

I was 14 and lived 8 miles away. I’ll never forget that day.

[@anikastarseed]

Was the noise loud? Could u guys hear it far ? Or any screams

[@johnhuwroberts7766]

@Screams? What sort of person are you? Please don’t bother me again. Reported.

[@Revelian1982]

​@@anikastarseedVery morbid of you to ask that.

[@helenrichardsonattley7746]

I dont know why i woke up this morning thinking about this but i did. I live in the northeast of England and i remember been taught about it in school im 40 now. i went home and spoke about it with my mam and gran and remember them filling up with tears before they could even speak. My gran was a stoned hearted woman never showed emotion (i suppose its how they survived in them days) but that day i seen tears run down my grans face. It was only then i fully understood as a child how bad it had actually been. Now i find myself revisiting old paper articles, news videos like these and i have no idea why. So many loses and so many broken hearts. 😢😢

[@PeterPerez.]

Never forget, love from Philippines 🇵🇭

[@superfriendly73]

I'm half welsh on my mum's side and my great grandad (her grandad) had to get the children out of the rubble. Rip to those who lost their lives.

[@alycercoyle8223]

I live an hour away from where this happened. My grandparents remember it like it was yesterday

[@xyhanx]

"All things bright and beautiful... All things great and small..."

[@alexandrachitty1287]

All creatures but yes

[@sharonharding3478]

I was 6 years old at the time I remember it on the news it sticks in my mind. God them grieving families. I don't know what to say. Thinking of you all in Aberfan. 💔💔💔💔😢

[@chrismullan7191]

People always remember 1966 for football reasons, but i feel this disaster in 1966 should be what people remember, 116 little childrens lives taken in such numbers, to sad for words, i was 7 when this happened and to this day remember my mum and dad watching it unfold on our small black and white telly, and you felt the scale of the loss and pain.

[@janetblack5181]

I remember this event clearly - devastation at its worse.

[@lexusdriver1963]

I feel so bad for the people, surviving children and the parents who lost their children of Aberfan.

[@chuckmaddison2924]

I'm from Barry . We were living in Farnborough when this happened. I don't think I will ever forget.

[@kahuna3901]

Just heartbreaking. The community came together. Welsh spirit

[@Sean-me4fv]

Heartbreaking

[@tayabmir3226]

Literally just learnt about this in my Geography lecture

[@yoshikagekira3244]

I honestly can’t contain my sadness... fairwell...

[@0ldw3lshm4n]

The month of October is a horrible month for Wales with other disasters also taking many many colliers lives though explosions. The price of coal and total disregard for the safety of workers and villages for decades.

[@louisepetrilli6130]

I never knew about it until The Crowd , rip you poor people 🙏🙏

[@AnthonyD-yy2in]

A mother I knew gave her baby up for adoption about 4 months before that tragedy happened. She decided to go to the children's home she left her baby at and take him back home with her, after watching this tragedy on the BBC news.

[@Blobnose10]

Surprised so many people have not heard of this. Read up on it, the National Coal Board and Governments treatment of the villagers was an absolute disgrace. There is an excellent podcast on BBC Sounds about it.

[@IotR-k9d]

I had just turned nine, the same age as a lot of the children involved, and remember watching the news. I remember the shock and our prayers and silence at school the following morning here in north east England. Many folk abroad say they never heard of this disaster...and likewise vis a vis. I was just over one year old when the terrible school fire at Our Lady of the Angels occured on December 1st 1958 in Chicago with such a tragic loss of life, only learning of this many many years later.

[@lightwoodnotwalesplusnothi7672]

If it was 20 minutes earlier no one would of been in the school

[@mamanarafa1252]

heaven were full of children's laughter that day.

[@randymanmaximus8419]

Such a terrible day. Like most here the Crown brought me here

[@jessicawilliams8288]

I learned about this incident from my grandmother who was with my mother when it happened.

[@robnewman6101]

Good Rememberance.

[@susantompkins4254]

I remember watching this on the news, it was heartbreaking 😢

[@UxJ7]

Bless those lost souls :(

[@nakulluthra2778]

Read How Green was my Valley by Richard Llewellyn (1939) . A very similar event has been predicted with the slurry being stored on high ground, which could come crashing down given adverse weather conditions. A beautiful book anyways, a true masterpiece.

[@charlycarrionnavea4736]

Pobrecitos no era fácil la vida en ese tiempo vine aquí porque salió en Clip en una serie de facebook❤ my hearts breaks down

[@joebloggs5318]

Taking into account the time difference between the UK and America, a WWF wrestling event took place on the 30th anniversary of the Aberfan mining disaster. The main event was a match named Buried Alive. As a wrestling fan I loved it. As a Welshman it made me sick.

[@MsGrandunion]

I don't really remember this, I was almost 2 years old and just remember the sadness and quietness that seemed to suddenly descend on the grown ups, which I could not understand. But I want to comment on those people attacking the Queen for not attending earlier. I wonder if that could have made matters worse. Wherever she goes becomes a media circus, and just maybe the media would have got in the way of the rescue attempts, and the focus would have shifted to hosting the Queen, rather than helping distraught families. I'm pretty sure that the families of this village would have not wanted the media circus or the hospitality obligations of a Royal visit.

[@jimrainero7655]

This is 3yrs before my birth just wondering if my name is on the list of stones of the 116 that passed away is there a list of names.

[@smithpm81]

the additional tragedy was the reaction of the NCB and the Government

[@DrSarahAbbas]

The most heart-wrenching incident of history so far particularly in terms of innocent young people Got to know this tragic incident through "The Crown" series 3

[@gloriaward1084]

I was born 1954 but I can remember watching it

[@anthonyeaton5]

So sad

[@yasqueen9687]

This was so avoidable 😭

[@racheldemain1940]

It happened 4 years before i was born . My Parents married the year before earlier in October. When an Anniversary came round they told us about it and i asked Dad how he felt The Crown depicted he Disaster.

[@hainsey123]

My 2 Granddad's helped in Aberfan Ray Haines and Les Dwyer from South 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 UK

[@garethroblyn]

I remember being a paper boy yrs ago. I used to put out the bins for a elderly gentleman. My dad told me that he was one of the fireman called to the scene. He told me one day he seen things he wouldn’t wish on his worst enemy

[@danielalima3594]

Very similar to the disasters of Mariana and Brumadinho at Brazil

[@oscar6487]

Wales should have a memorial of a child with a mother and father of this disaster in Cardiff and every Welsh person must stop for 5 minutes even workers and stand up and listen to the news of this with the Welsh anthem being played at midday on the date of the disaster x

[@oscar6487]

United independent Welsh party bollocks to the others

[@oscar6487]

No north or south Wales diviide

[@Canuck-in-Wales]

But a memorial in Aberfan would be (& is) infinitely better.

[@SR-jx8yu]

The hymn sung at the funeral is so beautiful; ‘Jesu, lover of my soul’

[@cloudy_bubblegum1]

Wow I just heard of this I heard about the Buffalo creek disaster first time I seen this

[@davidgriffiths8401]

Bloody hell my dad would have been two god bless those children

[@gabrielamayerova117]

Všetko sa zmietli pod koberec,veľmi smutné ,čítala som o Tom

[@legohistorytube.3148]

My Mum and Dad told me that One of those Kids was my Uncle.

[@andrewh5457]

If there is a heaven, I'm sure your uncle is there.

[@legohistorytube.3148]

@@andrewh5457 thanks

[@b-lodeedee]

Sadly, l don't believe the Queen's lack of emotion was overly exaggerated. I remember how she was at Diana's funeral, and I think she had to be convinced to even make an appearance. She's so regimented in 'royal protocol' she's the void of real emotions.

[@axelcarlsson6795]

B-lo DeeDee I’m not sure I believe that. I believe she feels tremendous emotion, but she’s just not the kind of person to display it. Just because one can’t show it doesn’t mean one doesn’t feel it

[@Cjbx11]

I don’t think lack of emotion should be confused with not caring.

[@lydiah2353]

I don’t think she is void of emotions - one of the lines in the episode regarded her being a distraction at events. I think this would be true and perhaps this is the reason she didn’t attend straight away. I cannot believe that she just didn’t care at all.. regardless of her status she is still a human being with feelings. I just can’t believe anyone would be so callous.

[@b-lodeedee]

Void of any emotions may have been too harsh. What I meant is that she doesn't reflect outwardly typical human reaction to tragic events. In the case of this tragedy, she was more concerned with royal protocol and 'appearances' than doing what most people would have done. Show compassion, humanity, comfort. I don't know how much of the show is embellished, but she literally had to be coached on how to interact with the families.

[@lydiah2353]

B-lo DeeDee no she definatley doesn’t reflect her emotions. Personally I think this is probably a combination of her personality traits ( across all three series she has been shown to be po faced, serious and uptight) so you have to assume this is fairly accurate?( Presuming someone has studied her from previous actions/ broadcasts ) as well as influences from her upbringing coming into play. I would expect a good amount of the show is embellished - maybe even just events that occurred as being accurate. I think the coaching is probably reflective of her character in the show. I know what you mean though - it does seem to be “ keeping up appearances” with the royals hence why they are so out of touch with the rest of the planet! 😀

[@tomosbeddis1686]

Sad

[@mariannedashwood8122]

The crown brought me here

[@ricexin2730]

I watched the crown 3rd season episode at 2am and it was so scary and terrible my heart ached

[@Adamorevo]

I just came here for emotional support after watching The Crown S3E3: Aberfan. Thanks everyone for the support.

[@misshannysigo9069]

Thanks to the Crown! I know this disaster happened. My prayer goes to all the families who lost their loved ones.

[@RONALDIN2000]

Watch this tragedy in the third season of THE CROWN! The Queen disconnected from everything as always!

[@chonkchonkdechonkchonk7922]

Katy Cox but the queen is like that in real life

[@jowilltellthetruth5525]

@@chonkchonkdechonkchonk7922 The Queen wept when she saw the devastation! Ask the people who were actually there that day rather than some third rate TV show! As for the Queen herself she has lived through WW2, seen devastation and wars go by time after time! Of course this is going to make you tough and able to compose yourself in public, doesn't mean she doesn't care!

[@alynwillams4297]

Fuck the queen! Cymru Rydd! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@MsGrandunion]

@@chonkchonkdechonkchonk7922 have you met the Queen? Lots of people on here have opinions, but they are usually just based on what they read on the media, so I would be interested to know what she is like in real life.

[@paulgabolinscy2502]

Lucky boy. Not many were. Very sad.

[@KUR0M11..]

It’s so tragic watching this breaks my heart to see everything that’s happend in the 1960s may they rest in peace rip ❤️

[@andrewh5457]

This is the saddest event to happen in my lifetime, sending love to everyone affected by this.

[@robnewman6101]

Some people did luckly survive.

[@disarray3714]

💔

[@peterah7957]

Heartbreaking... Avoidable! We must be ruthless with the corrupted capitalists who care nothing for human lives! This could and would be repeated if we do not remain vigilant!

[@lynmcnamee2713]

😢

[@wife5534]

Hi

[@Katwoman4318]

♥️

[@ericalbani4805]

Totally avoidable disaster, caused by Capitalism prioritising profit over people ... Will we ever learn ?

[@lewismorgan7499]

May God bless all who lost their loved ones 🙏thank god Colin Adams and meny more got out alive and meny more shame on coal board and meny Lords from London hell is were they belong 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿menny thanks to all the brave people who helped true valley grafters 💪🏻⚒️⛏️🛠️

[@michaptak4314]

welsh

[@kevangreenhalgh9806]

l.’R RHAI A GARWN AC Y GALARWN O U COLLl X❤

[@bachiltonsbattlegrounds3702]

I like how everyone knows about it due to a Netflix show 🙄 shows how fickle people are these days - do your reasearch and be more observant of politics!!

[@baronessvondengler]

Bachiltons Battlegrounds This is hardly “politics” - it’s a regional news story from an obscure village in the UK. Presumptuous of you to insinuate folks from other countries, born after 1967, should know about it. How many tragedies from Swaziland do you know about? If anything, the Netflix show has done a good thing by informing more ppl.

[@borismuller86]

Bachiltons Battlegrounds does it matter how people know about it? Point is, people are learning about it now. I’m sure there are plenty of events you have no idea about, because nobody is omniscient. Don’t be so arrogant.

[@bachiltonsbattlegrounds3702]

baronessvondengler the majority of the people commenting are British - if anything the 50th anniversary in 2016 was a big event

[@Katwoman4318]

O k thanks.

[@OutragedPufferfish]

How can you do research after an event you don't know about?

[@Hmurr1515]

Stop releasing balloons as a tribute

[@7777777777e]

Humans have to find a way to make everything ugly.

[@Katwoman4318]

Geez, really?

[@Katwoman4318]

♥️ Do whatever you like to commemorate the lives of children & adults lost that day.

[@mcpartridgeboy]

was it really that bad ? the brits have a tendancy to exadderatee things, im sure nobody ied except maybe a worker in the coal mine, these thivgs happen sometmes but tis not that biggr deal , im sure worse things hapen every day

[@Finchymagoo567]

This better be a joke?

[@Canuck-in-Wales]

Are you for real? This was not made up, it really happened and generations have been affected by this.