Hi guys! Here is My informative report on the Tangiwai disaster in NZ! Comment down bellow questions, opinions and other statements. I'd love to hear from you!!
Tangiwai disaster- Tangiwai meaning “ weeping waters” in Maori.
24th December 1953 10:21pm
It was Christmas Eve, and most of the 285 passengers were heading home for Christmas with presents, toys and gifts for friends and family. Then, at 10:21pm, the train to Auckland plunged into the flooded river. The Whangaehu river bridge that the train was crossing had been fatally weakened by a volcanic lahar from Mt Ruapehu's crater lake so the locomotive and first 6 carriages derailed into the river. 151 people on board died.The people waiting to meet their loved ones at the different stations up the line had no idea what had just happened.
In the next few days, searchers found many mud-soaked presents, toys and teddy bears on the banks of Whangaehu. Among the few from the second-class carriages ( the front of the train) to survive was Richard Edward Brett who was 18 years old, who somehow avoided being swept to his death down the flooded river. Charles Parker- the driver, had applied the emergency brakes around 200 metres from the bridge, an action which stopped the last three carriages from ending up in the river and saved many lives.
That event made headlines around the globe the next morning and our nation was stunned. The Tangiwai disaster is known to be the world's eighth deadliest rail disaster. Charles Parker- the driver, had applied the emergency brakes around 200 m from the bridge, an action which prevented the last three carriages from ending up in the river and saved many lives.
Some survivors have trouble celebrating Christmas because it brings back memories of that night, many of the passengers were travelling with family or friends and many lost those people and so Christmas makes them think of the death of their loved ones. For other people, survivors try their best to make Christmas the best it can possibly be for their children and grandchildren. In the queen's annual christmas speech- broadcasted from Auckland- she mentioned the Tangiwai disaster and gave a message of sympathy to the people of New Zealand.
By Kezia Pestell
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