Aberfan School Disaster 1966

In 1966, the Welsh village of Aberfan was shattered when a massive pile of coal mining debris gave way and thundered down a hillside, wiping out the local junior school. The avalanche killed 116 children and 28 adults in one of Britain's most heartbreaking tragedies.

Amid the chaos, school lunch lady Nansi Williams spotted the collapse and threw herself over five children, shielding them with her body. All five survived, but Nansi did not. Investigators held the National Coal Board responsible, naming nine officials as culpable. Yet not one person was fined, prosecuted, or even lost their job.

Previous Fact Next Fact