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50 Years On, Wales Honors Those Buried Alive in Aberfan 50 Years On, Wales Honors Those Buried Alive in Aberfan
(about 4 hours later)
LONDON — There had been warnings from the village in South Wales, which lived off the state-owned coal mines and under the huge tips of waste and tailings they produced, but the government ignored them. LONDON — There had been warnings from the village in South Wales, which lived off the state-owned coal mines and under the huge mounds of waste and tailings they produced, but the government ignored them.
Fifty years ago, after days of hard rain, a mountain of coal waste and slurry slid through Aberfan in a black avalanche, crushing the town’s school in its path and killing 28 adults and 116 children.Fifty years ago, after days of hard rain, a mountain of coal waste and slurry slid through Aberfan in a black avalanche, crushing the town’s school in its path and killing 28 adults and 116 children.
At the inquest, when a child’s cause of death was listed as asphyxia and multiple injuries, one father famously said: “No, sir. Buried alive by the National Coal Board. That is what I want to see on the record.”At the inquest, when a child’s cause of death was listed as asphyxia and multiple injuries, one father famously said: “No, sir. Buried alive by the National Coal Board. That is what I want to see on the record.”
It was one of the world’s first televised tragedies, and it has marked British attitudes toward authority ever since. The National Coal Board was later accused in an official inquiry of extreme negligence and “bungling ineptitude,” and Parliament passed legislation regarding public safety in mines and quarries.It was one of the world’s first televised tragedies, and it has marked British attitudes toward authority ever since. The National Coal Board was later accused in an official inquiry of extreme negligence and “bungling ineptitude,” and Parliament passed legislation regarding public safety in mines and quarries.
On Friday, at 9:15 a.m., Wales fell silent in commemoration. Survivors of the disaster, who had been pulled from the rubble, and families who had lost children gathered in Aberfan, joined by dignitaries like Prince Charles.On Friday, at 9:15 a.m., Wales fell silent in commemoration. Survivors of the disaster, who had been pulled from the rubble, and families who had lost children gathered in Aberfan, joined by dignitaries like Prince Charles.
Ceremonies were held in the village, including at its cemetery and memorial garden, laid out within the footprint of the Pantglas Junior School, which was obliterated that day, buried under 30 feet of mud, sludge and rubble.Ceremonies were held in the village, including at its cemetery and memorial garden, laid out within the footprint of the Pantglas Junior School, which was obliterated that day, buried under 30 feet of mud, sludge and rubble.
Gerald Kirwan was 8 years old in 1966 and was at the school that Friday. “Aberfan should never be forgotten,” he told the BBC. “I don’t think it ever will.”Gerald Kirwan was 8 years old in 1966 and was at the school that Friday. “Aberfan should never be forgotten,” he told the BBC. “I don’t think it ever will.”
At the school assembly that day, they sang “All Things Bright and Beautiful” and were about to start classes when they heard a roar in the distance.At the school assembly that day, they sang “All Things Bright and Beautiful” and were about to start classes when they heard a roar in the distance.
“There was this rumbling sound, which got louder and louder as time went by, and the next thing I remember was waking up,” Jeff Edwards, who was also 8 that day, told ITV. “When I woke, I found myself covered in this material, with a dead girl on my shoulder.”“There was this rumbling sound, which got louder and louder as time went by, and the next thing I remember was waking up,” Jeff Edwards, who was also 8 that day, told ITV. “When I woke, I found myself covered in this material, with a dead girl on my shoulder.”
There were few children left to play with, he told the BBC. “All our friends were gone, and to a certain extent, parents with lost children didn’t want to see children playing in the streets,” he said. So they played out of sight, down by the river, then black with coal dust. Afterward, there were few children left to play with, he told the BBC. “All our friends were gone, and to a certain extent, parents with lost children didn’t want to see children playing in the streets,” he said. So they played out of sight, down by the river, then black with coal dust.
Today, the tips are gone, covered with grass and trees, and so are the coal mines. The river is clear and full of fish. Today, the heaps are gone, covered with grass and trees, and so are the coal mines. The river is clear and full of fish.
Prime Minister Theresa May, paying homage to the Aberfan dead in the House of Commons in London this week, said that those in power at the time “were not willing to step up to the plate initially and accept what had actually happened.”Prime Minister Theresa May, paying homage to the Aberfan dead in the House of Commons in London this week, said that those in power at the time “were not willing to step up to the plate initially and accept what had actually happened.”
Wales was changed forever, Carwyn Jones, its first minister, said this week. The people of the valleys knew the dangers of mining, he said.Wales was changed forever, Carwyn Jones, its first minister, said this week. The people of the valleys knew the dangers of mining, he said.
“They knew the price of coal was high,” he said. “They didn’t realize it could be so extortionate.”“They knew the price of coal was high,” he said. “They didn’t realize it could be so extortionate.”