🏞️ The Aberfan Disaster – A Tragedy in Wales 🌧️🏫
A long time ago, something very sad happened in a small village in Wales called Aberfan. On 21st October 1966, a huge landslide of coal waste crashed into the village, burying a school and houses. It was one of the worst disasters in Welsh history. Let’s find out what happened and why it is important to remember Aberfan.
Where Is Aberfan? 🌍
Aberfan is a small village in South Wales, near the town of Merthyr Tydfil. It was a mining village, where many people worked in the coal mines.
The village had:
🏡 Houses where families lived.
🏫 A school called Pantglas Junior School.
🛤️ A railway and roads.
Many people in Aberfan worked in the coal mines, which were very important to Wales at the time.
What Happened on 21st October 1966? ⛰️🌧️
⛏️ Near Aberfan, there were huge piles of coal waste (called slag heaps or tips) left over from the mines.
🌧️ Heavy rain made the coal waste unstable, and it began to move.
⏳ At 9:15 am, a gigantic landslide of coal and mud rushed down the hillside.
🏫 The coal smashed into Pantglas Junior School, burying classrooms full of children.
🚒 Villagers, miners, and rescue teams tried to save as many people as possible.
Sadly, 144 people died, including 116 children.
Why Did It Happen? 🤔
People in Aberfan had warned the government that the coal tip was dangerous, but nothing was done.
❌ The coal waste tip was placed on top of a stream, which made it unstable.
❌ Heavy rain made the tip collapse and slide down the hill.
❌ The disaster could have been prevented if the warnings had been listened to.
This made people angry and upset, as the tragedy could have been avoided.
How Did People Help? ❤️
🚑 Rescue workers and volunteers searched through the coal to find survivors.
💷 People across Wales and the UK raised money to help Aberfan families.
👨⚖️ A public inquiry found that the government had been at fault for ignoring warnings.
Many families in Aberfan never received a proper apology at the time, but people still remember what happened and honour those who were lost.
Remembering Aberfan 🕊️
Today, there are memorials in Aberfan to remember those who died.
🌳 The Aberfan Memorial Garden is built on the site of the old school.
⚘ People visit to lay flowers and remember the children.
📅 Every year on 21st October, people in Wales pause to remember Aberfan.
It is important to learn from Aberfan to make sure such a tragedy never happens again.
Fun Facts About Aberfan 🤩
✔ Queen Elizabeth II visited Aberfan to meet the families after the disaster. 👑
✔ The disaster led to new safety rules to stop coal tips from being dangerous.
✔ The charity fund raised over £1.75 million to help the village.
✔ The Aberfan story was told in the TV series The Crown. 📺
What Can You Do? 🎨📖
🖌️ Draw a picture of the Aberfan Memorial Garden.
📖 Write a short story about life in Aberfan before the disaster.
💡 Think about safety – What can we do to make sure disasters like this never happen again?
Aberfan is a story of sadness, bravery, and remembrance. Even today, people in Wales will never forget what happened. 🕊️💙🏞️
