Abercarn colliery disaster
51°38′51″N 3°07′53″W / 51.64750°N 3.13139°W
Prince of Wales Colliery in Abercarn | |
| Date | 11 September 1878 |
|---|---|
| Location | Abercarn, South Wales |
| Deaths | 268 men and boys |
| Verdict | Explosion caused by firedamp ignition |
| Awards | Albert Medals of the First and Second Class to rescuers |
The Abercarn colliery disaster was a catastrophic explosion within the Prince of Wales Colliery in the Welsh village of Abercarn (then in the county of Monmouthshire), on 11 September 1878, killing 268 men and boys (though an exact number of casualties remains unknown). The cause was assumed to have been the ignition of firedamp by a safety lamp. The disaster is the third worst for loss of life to occur within the South Wales Coalfield.