Aberfan marks 60 years since coal tip collapsed on school and homes, killing 116 children and 28 adults

Summary

People in Aberfan, south Wales, are remembering the disaster 60 years ago when a coal waste tip collapsed on a school and homes
A prayer and moment of silence was held at 09:15 to mark the moment, and a male voice choir formed in the aftermath of the disaster will sing
On 21 October 1966, 116 children and 28 adults were killed when the colliery spoil tip collapsed and engulfed Pantglas Junior School and surrounding houses
On what was the last day of school before half term, children were settling down to lessons when tragedy struck
Emergency services, miners and people who rushed to the village began an around-the-clock battle to dig out those trapped by the debris
King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince of Wales will later join survivors, bereaved parents and other members of the community
The tragedy was said to be the late Queen Elizabeth's biggest regret that she didn't visit until eight days after the disaster - she later returned to the village in Merthyr Tydfil county a further three times
Warning: This live page will contain upsetting details that some may find distressing

Live Reporting

Edited by Chris Wood, Miriam Barker and Ben Frampton

Memorial garden that stands on site of destroyed schoolpublished at 10:19 BST
Image source, Getty Images
Pantglas Junior School was Aberfan's local school when the disaster struck, claiming the lives of 116 children and 28 adults.
The building was destroyed and not rebuilt.
In 2019, an Aberfan memorial garden was unveiled in its place, following work costing £500,000.
The chairman of the Aberfan Memorial Charity David Davies told a crowd of 200 people at the time: "The world has not forgotten Aberfan.
"The memorial garden will continue to be a place to visit, a tranquil place to pause and reflect."
Image source, Getty Images
'One little girl... she had beautiful black curly hair'published at 10:08 BST
Mair Morgan was a 25-year-old teacher who had worked at Pantglas Junior School for a year when the disaster happened.
She recalls it as a misty morning with drizzly rain, as she rang the bell to start school at 08:50.
After hearing a "terrible noise", she got her pupils outside before the impact of the slurry, and remembers seeing the caretaker rushing to help other children.
Bethania Chapel was eventually opened as a place of rest for the victims of the disaster, but before that, the teachers were asked to identify the children.
"I found that very hard," said Mair.
"I remember one little girl, I can see her face now. She had beautiful black curly hair."
Image source, Getty Images/ BBC

Survivors and families of victims gather for private servicepublished at 10:00 BST
Huw Thomas
BBC News, reporting from Aberfan
Image source, Getty Images
At the cemetery where victims are buried, events were private, away from the media and other visitors to Aberfan.
Survivors were joined by family members of those who died to mark the moment the disaster happened exactly 60 years ago.
A programme of events, shared with me, explained how wreaths were laid by representatives from the emergency services that responded that day.
There were also dignitaries at the cemetery, including Wales' first minister, members of parliament and local government.
Chaplain to the mayor of Merthyr Tydfil Rev David Powell led the prayers while the Bishop of Llandaff closed proceedings with a benediction.
The Ynysowen Male Voice Choir, formed to help men in Aberfan to cope in the years after the disaster, also performed for those who gathered in the misty rain.
Tears as village falls silent to rememberpublished at 09:49 BST

Pupils at Aberfan school remember those lostpublished at 09:40 BST
Pupils at Ynysowen Community Primary School gathered to pay their respects.
They share a special connection with the 144 children and adults who lost their lives.
The school was built in the village to carry on the legacy of Pantglas Junior School which was destroyed in the Aberfan disaster.
Prince William will unveil an Aberfan Memorial Tree at the school later today.
Families console each other during minute's silencepublished at 09:28 BST
Jordan Davies
BBC News, reporting from Aberfan
A line of people, some wearing black ties, gathered on Moy Road near where Pantglas Junior School once stood.
Some were visibly upset on what is an emotional day for this village and community.
People were seen consoling their family members as they shielded from the rain.

What happened 60 years ago today?published at 09:19 BST
Aberfan prepares to fall silent at 09:15published at 09:11 BST
Huw Thomas
BBC News, reporting from Aberfan
Image caption,
People have turned out for the anniversary despite the weather
The crowds are lining Moy Road in Aberfan as they prepare for a minute's silence at 09:15.
There are more and more people arriving, despite the weather being cold and wet, with plenty of umbrellas on display on the opposite side of the road to the memorial garden.
First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth is among them to pay his respects.

The moment time stood still in Aberfanpublished at 09:02 BST
One of the most poignant artefacts associated with Aberfan is a clock which stopped at the moment coal spoil struck the village - approximately 09:13.
It was picked up by Mike Flynn, one of the rescuers, and has been used since to help illustrate the tragedy.
The clock had been stored in a box in his son's house, but in 2022 he donated it to the national museum at St Fagans to ensure it is preserved for the nation.
"Certainly the Aberfan community and the wider Welsh community really own the clock because of what it stands for and the significance of it," said Mike Flynn Junior.
How will the anniversary be marked today?published at 08:49 BST
King Charles III, Queen Camilla and Prince William are set to join survivors, bereaved parents and members of the community to pay tribute to those who died on this day in 1966.
Wales falls silent every year at around 09:13 to mark the approximate time the Aberfan disaster claimed the lives of 144 people, including 116 children.
On the 60th anniversary, the royals will visit the Aberfan Memorial Garden which stands on the site of Pantglas Junior School.
They will spend time with pupils who survived, siblings of those who died, and members of a support group for mothers who lost children.
The Village's Ynysowen Male Voice Choir - formed in the aftermath of the disaster - will also perform.
Image source, Getty Images

'The air is heavy with the memory of the tragedy'published at 08:42 BST
Jordan Davies
BBC News, reporting from Aberfan
It’s damp and dark in Aberfan and the air is heavy with the memory of what happened here 60 years ago today.
In the community centre, the heart of anniversary events, people are working hard to make sure today goes as smoothly as possible - as the world’s media lines up outside.
There’s a huge security operation, with roads cordoned off and police officers with search dogs.
At the top of Aberfan, you can see the gleaming white flagstones in the memorial for those who died - a poignant and permanent reminder of this tragedy.
What happened in Aberfan on 21 October 1966?published at 08:34 BST
It was the last day before half term, and pupils had just sat down to lessons at Pantglas Junior School in Aberfan.
Just after 09:00, a colliery spoil tip above the small mining community collapsed.
About 150,000 tonnes of slurry slid down the mountain and towards the village, engulfing the school and nearby houses.
The disaster claimed the lives of 144 people, including 116 children.
At the time, Aberfan, in Merthyr Tydfil county, was a village of a few thousand people, just like countless others dotted across the south Wales coalfield.
But its name is now ingrained on the national consciousness, and every year on 21 October, the nation pauses to remember those that were lost.
Stay with us as we bring you live coverage throughout the day as people gather in Aberfan to pay their respects.
Image source, Getty Images