The Tangiwai Railway Bridge Collapse Disaster 1953

The Tangiwai disaster occurred at on 24 December 1953 when a railway bridge over the Whangaehu River collapsed beneath an express passenger train at Tangiwai, North Island, New Zealand.

The disaster resulted in the loss of 151 people.

It was found the disaster was caused by the failure of a Tephra Dam resulting in a Lahar Flood which destroyed the bridge.