The Risca colliery disasters were a series of catastrophic mine explosions near the Welsh town of Risca (then in the county of Monmouthshire) in the nineteenth century. The most serious of these were in 1860 when more than 140 died in the Black Vein colliery and in 1880 when 120 died at the New Risca colliery. The main disasters in Risca attracted nationwide press coverage and resulted in official inquiries to determine the causes of the accidents.