The First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, is calling upon the people of Wales to pause and remember the Aberfan disaster with a minuteās silence at 9.15am on 21 October 2016, exactly 50 years after the tragedy took place.
The 1966 disaster claimed the lives of 144 people, 116 of them primary school children, when a spoil tip containing waste material from coal mining slid down from its position on the hillside above the village of Aberfan, near Merthyr Tydfil.
Carwyn Jones said:
āIām calling on the people of Wales to join together in a minuteās silence at 9.15am on Friday 21 October.
āThe disaster in Aberfan, 50 years ago, was one of the darkest days in modern Welsh history and we remember the adults and school children who lost their lives. We also think about the survivors, those who lost loved-ones and the people who answered the call to search and care for survivors, and recover those who had perished.
āIndividuals, families and the community have been profoundly affected by the disaster. Half a century after, it is fitting that the country as a whole comes together, with respect and compassion, to remember.ā
Help keep news FREE for our readers
Supporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism, then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. Read More About Supporting The West Wales Chronicle