First Minister To Mark 50th Anniversary Of The Aberfan Disaster

Tomorrow marks 50 years since the Aberfan disaster, which claimed the lives of 144 people, including 116 children. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ahead of the anniversary, First Minister Carwyn Jones is reminding the people of Wales of the national minute’s silence, which will take place at 9.15am tomorrow [Friday 21 October 2016]. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The First Minister said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We will never forget the men, women and school children who tragically lost their lives in the Aberfan disaster 50 years ago. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Remembrance is important so future generations understand what happened in Aberfan. It is a truly heart-breaking moment in our history and no-one who learns about the disaster can fail to be profoundly moved by it. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Half a century on from the disaster, I hope the country as a whole will come together, with respect and compassion, to pause for a minute at 9.15am tomorrow and think of the community of Aberfan.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​