Aberfan Disaster

On 21 October 1966 the mining village of Aberfan, Wales was rocked to the core when a hill of coal waste collapsed, sending approximately 140,000 cubic yards of spoil down into the village. It happened due to periods of rainfall on the nearby mountains. The slag heap swamped Aberfan, knocking down buildings and killing those unfortunate to be in its path but the majority of the casualties were children when the avalanche struck the town school. 144 people died that day with the majority of those being 116 children. The local residents and miners worked hard to get survivors and the remains of victims out and Welsh born actor Richard Burton generously appeared in a TV show to raise money for the victim's families. To this day, the residents suffer from medical problems and post-traumatic stress disorder from the tragedy.