Rescuers Still Toil In Aberfan

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31198, 24 October 1966, Page 11

Rescuers Still Toil In Aberfan

CV Z.P A -Reuter—Copyright) ABERFAN (Wales), October 23. \\ eary villagers were warned in Aberfan today to be ready to run for their lives from the mud that has already killed at least 120 of their children and relatives.

A rescue official posted 40 lookouts on the hillside above the stricken village and told the people below: “If their whistles sound, just run and keep running.

The deadly mountain of coal waste that swamped the village school and several houses on Friday moved briefly again after hours of heavy rain last night. Hopes soared as the rain stopped and the early morning sky cleared—but warnings went out that the rain might start again soon. Rescue officials are still unable to give a firm indication of the final death total. Early today, about 127] bodies had been recovered.) But estimates of the number: still buried range between 60 and 100. Lorry loads of soldiers

trundled in during the night i to help anguished fathers and local mineworkers who have! dug frantically for nearly 60 hours to reach members of their families. One group of soldiers uncovered six children’s bodies huddled together within minutes of getting to work with shovels. Less Frequent Otherwise the sad sound of calls for first-aid men to bring stretchers has become less frequent as diggers get into deeper, more difficult areas. Besides the groups of children recovered from the school, an adult’s body was found during the night where a row of crushed houses stood. A police appeal for ablebodied rescue workers broadcast on radio and television

last night brought hundreds of volunteers to join the work expected to continue at its present intensity for at least another week. Officials of Britain's National Coal Board have treat-] ed the slag heap with special l binding chemicals and taken extra drainage precautions. They are confident it will withstand any further rain without sliding forward again But the villagers, many of them evacuated from their houses and almost all with their most precious belongings packed in bags, are not so sure. “The Coal Board gave their assurance yesterday evening —and after that we saw the slag moving forward again,” said a rescue worker.