57 years ago today, a slag heap from a local coal mine in Aberfan, Wales, slipped after months of heavy rainfall. It collapsed onto the local school where 144 people were killed, including 116 primary aged school children.
Locals had been warning the Coal Board of the danger for a long time, but they were ignored. Even after this disaster, it took a long time for conditions in and around mining to be improved.
This disaster was also one of the first major ones to attract a truly global response. Money came in from all over the world, and ended up being I think about £1.5m, an absolute fortune back then, BUT, after the enquiry they were forced to hand over approx 1/3 of the money if they wanted the coal board to remove the other heaps. Disgusting really. Being made to pay out of their own disaster fund. That money was meant to re-home victims and families, pay for holidays etc.
NotQuiteAsCool on October 21st, 2023 at 10:16 UTC »
57 years ago today, a slag heap from a local coal mine in Aberfan, Wales, slipped after months of heavy rainfall. It collapsed onto the local school where 144 people were killed, including 116 primary aged school children.
Locals had been warning the Coal Board of the danger for a long time, but they were ignored. Even after this disaster, it took a long time for conditions in and around mining to be improved.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberfan_disaster
Robestos86 on October 21st, 2023 at 13:30 UTC »
This disaster was also one of the first major ones to attract a truly global response. Money came in from all over the world, and ended up being I think about £1.5m, an absolute fortune back then, BUT, after the enquiry they were forced to hand over approx 1/3 of the money if they wanted the coal board to remove the other heaps. Disgusting really. Being made to pay out of their own disaster fund. That money was meant to re-home victims and families, pay for holidays etc.
CaminoFan on October 21st, 2023 at 13:43 UTC »
My great uncle was there, he was a fireman and helped dig out whoever they could, and also body recovery. Said it was the darkest day of his life