A colliery spoil tip collapsed on the Welsh village and its school.

Killing 118 children and 28 adults. Even though the danger was obvious for years.


'the past is a foreign country; they do things differently there'

Surely it was much earlier ? 1966?

Health and safety regulations didn't exist then. Or accountability, litigation, compensation, counselling etc.

The village was reluctant (due to many local mine closures) to be vociferous about their complaints regarding the tip, which overlooked everything.

And was clearly disintegrating for years because of subsidence and weather damage. The authorities ignored their protestations.

As they had the trump card. Which was - if you don't stay quite, we'll shut the mine. Making the Aberfan into a ghost town.

Very sadly, the village has so many young ghosts now.