Several major disasters occurred in the south Wales coalfield and are recorded within the coal collections at Glamorgan Archives
Many workers – men and boys – lost their lives in incidents such as the flooding of Tynewydd Colliery in 1877 and the Albion Colliery Explosion of 1894.
![DNCB-14-1-1](https://glamarchives.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/DNCB-14-1-1-1024x652.jpg)
On 14 October 1913 an explosion at Universal Colliery, Senghenydd, killed 439 miners. It remains the most lethal mining disaster in British history.
![DPD-4-11-2-4](https://glamarchives.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/DPD-4-11-2-4-1024x812.jpg)
![DPD-4-11-2-4](https://glamarchives.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/DPD-4-11-2-4-1024x812.jpg)
The impact on communities was huge, with sometimes hundreds of families losing their main breadwinner. With the colliery out of action, survivors had to seek work elsewhere.
![DSWP-PH-SEN9](https://glamarchives.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Panel-7-Image-3-DSWP-PH-SEN9-e1588242097310-1024x678.jpg)
![DSWP-PH-SEN9](https://glamarchives.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Panel-7-Image-3-DSWP-PH-SEN9-e1588242097310-1024x678.jpg)
Compensation was available through official channels and charitable subscriptions, like the fund established for the families of the victims at Senghenydd.