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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Historical chapel linked to Aberfan disaster 'totally gutted' | Historical chapel linked to Aberfan disaster 'totally gutted' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A "devastating" fire has totally gutted a historical Merthyr Tydfil chapel. | A "devastating" fire has totally gutted a historical Merthyr Tydfil chapel. |
| The internal structure of Capel Aberfan, built in 1876, was destroyed and four homes evacuated after the fire at 01:51 BST on Saturday. | The internal structure of Capel Aberfan, built in 1876, was destroyed and four homes evacuated after the fire at 01:51 BST on Saturday. |
| The chapel was used as a temporary mortuary following the Aberfan disaster in 1966 and housed a memorial organ donated by the Queen. | The chapel was used as a temporary mortuary following the Aberfan disaster in 1966 and housed a memorial organ donated by the Queen. |
| Jennie Griffiths of the fire service tweeted it is "in danger of collapse" and Aberfan Road remains closed. | |
| Merthyr Vale councillor Darren Roberts said: "This is devastating for the community as it has so much history." | Merthyr Vale councillor Darren Roberts said: "This is devastating for the community as it has so much history." |
| Although it closed in 2012, occasional services still took place and renovations were ongoing to try and modernise it and bring it back into community use. | Although it closed in 2012, occasional services still took place and renovations were ongoing to try and modernise it and bring it back into community use. |
| Mr Roberts said the building had been "totally gutted". | Mr Roberts said the building had been "totally gutted". |
| One fire engine was still at the scene on Aberfan Road on Saturday morning, with most of the nearby residents having returned to their homes. | One fire engine was still at the scene on Aberfan Road on Saturday morning, with most of the nearby residents having returned to their homes. |
| An investigation into the fire is ongoing and Western Power Distribution and Wales and West Utilities are also at the scene. |