Aberfan Disaster 1966

On October 21st, 1966, at around 9am on the final day of term at Pantglas Junior School, tip no. 7 at Merthyr Vale Colliery collapsed after starting to move earlier in the morning due to the destabilisation from the underground spring. This resulted in the coal waste slipping into the village below, liquifying in the process. Moving at high speed, the slip destroyed several houses and collided into the side of Pantglas Junior School. 144 people died, of which 116 were children. A massive rescue effort was undertaken by the local community and people across Wales to save those trapped under the debris. While many were saved, no survivors were found after 11am. 

This project, funded by Welsh Government, in conjunction with Glamorgan Archives, aims to further tell the story of the Aberfan Disaster and how the community responded to such a tragedy. Several items were selected from the Library's collections, the majority of which are from the Aberfan Disaster Fund, Aberfan Parents and Residents Association, and Erastus Jones Papers. 

This webpage is the culmination of that work, compiling together the digitised material into an online resource for people to explore and better understand what happened in the days, months, and years following October 21st, 1966.

This webpage is divided into several sub-sections covering the different types of items found amidst the collections. Sub-sections can be found via the links below. Some items crossover into several categories but have been placed with relevant material when determining the best location. Each page covers a wide range of topics including the day of the Disaster, initial response, tribunal evidence, community redevelopment, and reflections on the Disaster years later.