Wales falls silent on 50th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster

  • Wales
The graves of the victims of the Aberfan disaster in the village's cemetery in Wales, on the 50th anniversary of the tragedy Credit: PA

Wales has fallen silent to mark the 50th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster, which cost the lives of 116 schoolchildren.

A minute's silence was held across Aberfan and the rest of the country at 9:15am as people remembered the catastrophe, half a century since 150,000 tonnes of coal waste slid down a hillside before engulfing Pantglas Junior School.

The students of Afon Taf High School, in Merthyr Tydfil, paid their respects at a special school assembly, bowing their heads in remembrance.

The students of Afon Taf High School Credit: ITV Cymru Wales

The people of Aberfan came together at the village's memorial garden, on the site of the former junior school, where they too observed a minute's silence.

Credit: Rupert Evelyn / ITV News
A minute's silence is observed for the victims of the Aberfan disaster outside the memorial garden Credit: PA

The Senedd in Cardiff Bay also gathered to remember one of Wales' darkest days.

The Senedd in Cardiff Bay fell silent Credit: Rosie Mercer / ITV Cymru Wales