Aberfan: Last surviving teacher remembers faces of the children who died
BBC World
February 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Mair Morgan, one of the last surviving teachers from the 1966 Aberfan disaster, recalls the heartbreaking task of identifying the faces of children killed when a colliery tip collapsed, engulfing Pantglas Junior School and nearby homes. The tragedy, which occurred on October 21, 1966, claimed the lives of 144 people—116 children and 28 adults. Mair, now 84, vividly remembers the chaos and loss that day, including a little girl with "beautiful black curly hair" whose body she had to identify. Her account underscores the enduring emotional toll of the disaster, which remains deeply ingrained in her memory decades later.
Mair had only been teaching at Pantglas Junior School for a year when the tragedy struck. On that fateful morning, she heard a terrifying noise as the 150,000-tonne pile of slurry raced down the mountain, destroying the school and surrounding homes. Mair’s classroom was in a separate building, allowing her to lead her students to safety. However, the loss of five fellow teachers and the devastation among families, including that of teacher Bill Evans, who lost his entire family, left an indelible mark on her life. The police eventually restricted access to the village, but Mair and two other colleagues persisted in returning to help identify the dead.
The disaster remains a poignant reminder of industrial negligence and its devastating
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Originally published on BBC World on 2/23/2026