An entire generation was almost wiped out when 150,000 tonnes of coal waste slid down the hillside before engulfing Pantglas Junior School on October 21 1966.
asserted
tonnes → wipe → October
The disaster unfolded, following days of heavy rain, when excavated mining debris from the Merthyr Vale Colliery was dislodged and came thundering down the hillside.
asserted
debris → unfold → hillside
The waste material had been piled high on the side of Mynydd Merthyr – above Aberfan – for years, even though there were numerous underground springs below.
asserted
material → pile → years
About half the children from the junior school died in the tragedy, which happened on the last day before half-term.
asserted
which → die → term
The Prime Minister visited Aberfan cemetery to see the area dedicated to those that died.
asserted
that → visit → those
After seeing the distinctive white limestone and granite arch monuments, the Prime Minister laid a floral wreath, with a card that said: “We will forever hold the memory of Aberfan and its children in our hearts.”
asserted
We → see → hearts
He then visited the Aberfan Disaster Memorial Garden, which is on the site of the former school.
asserted
which → visit → school
There he spoke to David Davies, chairman of the Aberfan Memorial Charity, and Mair Morgan, the last surviving teacher from the school.
asserted
he → speak → school
Mr Burnham then walked to the nearby community centre and met survivors and families of those who died.
asserted
who → walk → those
He told one group: “It’s great honestly to be with you.
“
asserted
It → tell → you
I wanted to be here.
asserted
I → want → ?
“It’s really important.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
“I remember my mum and dad talked to me a lot about it.
asserted
mum → remember → it
“I was born just after.
asserted
I → bear → ?
“It impacted everyone in a very profound way.”
asserted
It → impact → way
Coal bosses had been warned about “flowslides” prior to the disaster and, despite a 76-day public inquiry, no-one faced prosecution or lost their job.
Read More
asserted
one → warn → job
Local residents were left with no choice but to take £150,000 from a memorial fund to pay for the clean-up bill.
asserted
residents → leave → bill
This was eventually returned after decades of campaigning.
asserted
This → return → campaigning
Speaking afterwards to broadcasters, Mr Burnham explained why he had decided to come to Aberfan.
asserted
he → speak → Aberfan
“I felt it was very important to mark the significance of the anniversary on Wednesday,” the Prime Minister said.
asserted
Minister → feel → Wednesday
“It’s been 60 years since one of the most horrifying tragedies this country has ever seen.
asserted
country → see → tragedies
“All of those children lost.
asserted
All → lose → children
“It was something that my mum and dad spoke to me about as I was growing up.
asserted
I → speak → me
“So here to recognise the community, what the community has been through, but just in the community centre to thank them for being there for each other.
asserted
community → recognise → other
“The strength of the community today is something to see and something to feel.
asserted
strength → see → community
“To say also to them, I don’t think Aberfan was treated properly by the authorities and that also needs to be recognised.
asserted
that → say → authorities
“Because at a moment like this, I think all of those things need to be said and it’s right that the Prime Minister is here to say that to them.”
asserted
Minister → think → them
The Prime Minister also said coal tip safety, particularly in former mining communities in South Wales, was of “critical importance”.
asserted
safety → say → importance
Landslips at Tylorstown in 2020 and Cwmtillery in 2024 have highlighted the risks associated with Wales’s 2,600 disused coal tips and the need for their continued management.
asserted
Landslips → highlight → management
“Obviously, it’s of critical importance that we make sure that all of the remaining tips around Wales are safe, indeed across the country,” Mr Burnham said.
asserted
Burnham → ’ → country
“I represent a former mining community myself, so I fully understand the importance of these issues.
asserted
I → represent → issues
“The UK Government is providing around £140 million to the Welsh Government and they are adding some extra funding themselves.
asserted
they → provide → funding
“There’s an organisation that is being set up to manage all of these ongoing risks.
asserted
that → ’ → risks
“I can give you that commitment that, of course, we will make sure that all the right things are done to make all communities across Wales safe.”
asserted
communities → give → Wales
The Aporia
