S. Wales, 4 miles South of Merthyr Tydfil, a collapse from a colliery spoil tip on Mynydd Merthyr
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When?
21st October 1966, 9.15am
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Debris
For 50 years, excavated mining debris was deposited on Mynydd Merthyr. Concerns in 1963 were ignored.
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What happened?
150,000 m^3 slid down. The front 40,000 liquefied and smashed into the vilage as 12m thick slurry.
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Coroners
400 made the bodies identifiable.
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Economic
Destroyed a farm and 20 terraced houses on Moy Road
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Social
Flowed into N. side of Pantglas Junior School, killing 116 children and 28 adults by suffocation, crushing or head injuries
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Community cohesion
on 27th October, over 2000 attended the mass funeral.
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Psychological effect
1 mother had to look at the body of every dead girl until she found her daughter.
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Economic
Generation gap - aging population
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Trauma
Sedatives, fear of sleep or being trapped, guilt of parents, breakdowns, alcohol related problems
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Event
Mines and Quarries Act 1969 - survey of Mynydd Merthyr showed that the springs were there, but this was ignored, resulting in the spoil being dumped there.
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Loss
2000 emergency workers, some for over 24 hours - would have been more effective if the village was better organised
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Loss
Bethania Chapel, 250m away, used as a Missing Persons Bureau until 4th November
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Davies Inquiry
The tips were never surveyed and overlay known springs.
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National Coal Board
Gave £500 per child in compensation - does not bring back a dead child.
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Disaster fund
£1.6 million in 90,000 contributions. Equivalent to £21.4 million today
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