Shift to Recovery at Longview Facility
At least two people died and nine workers remain unrecovered after a chemical tank imploded at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. facility in Longview, Washington. The rupture released white liquor, a caustic mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide used in paper processing. Officials shifted from rescue to recovery operations on Wednesday as the scene stayed extremely hazardous.
Cowlitz Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein described the event as a blast, explosion, implosion, rupture and failure. He said all those terms mean the same in terms of the damage observed. Authorities said the tank had an approximate capacity of 900,000 gallons of white liquor and was about two-thirds full at the time of the Tuesday morning incident.
The plant employs about 1,000 people and produces material for tissues, printing paper, cups, plates and cartons. The incident was reported at 7:19 a.m. local time. About 40 firefighters and paramedics responded along with a regional hazmat team.
Confirmed Deaths and Unrecovered Workers
Sources say the presumed death toll is 11. Two deaths have been confirmed while nine workers remain unrecovered.
The family of Gilbert Bernal identified him as one of the deceased. Todd Cornwell, a friend from the same Bible study group, recalled Bernal as an electrician who helped during a local church school flooding. Cornwell said the group met the night after the incident to talk about Bernal instead of conducting Bible study.
PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center received nine patients from the incident, one of whom was deceased. Four others transferred to Legacy Oregon Burn Center in Portland. Of those four, one was treated and released, two remain hospitalized and the fourth died from injuries.
Injuries and Hazardous Conditions
Some victims suffered burns or inhalation injuries with severity ranging from minor to critical. All recovered individuals will undergo decontamination before transport to the Cowlitz County coroner's office for identification and family notification.
The tank buckled and collapsed on one side. Concerns about its structural integrity delayed recovery efforts. Crews will only work during daylight hours because of the dangers.
Local authorities estimated that roughly 25,000 gallons of material may remain inside the damaged tank and it is leaking slowly. An earlier inspection revealed the remaining product is a significantly smaller volume. This allowed emergency responders to develop a plan to move forward with removal.
Contamination Reaches Columbia River
Some contamination entered the Columbia River. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson said there was no indication of air contamination. Testing indicated the drinking water in the surrounding area was safe.
The Washington Department of Ecology reported no negative health impacts to air quality or the City of Longview's drinking water system. The public should avoid ditches and dikes in the city while water testing continues. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is assisting state authorities with environmental monitoring and mitigation efforts.
Brittny Goodsell, a state Ecology Department spokesperson, said the liquid spilled into a drainage ditch. Officials stressed there is no risk to the local water supply for the Columbia River city of about 40,000 people.
Company Response and Safety Record
Nippon Paper Group issued a statement offering its deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families. The company did not immediately respond to requests for further comment. Safety complaints were filed against Nippon Dynawave in March and May though both were unrelated to the tank that imploded.
The state's labor and industries department noted one anonymous complaint concerned a valve on a different tank. Nippon Dynawave has been fined $3,400 for three separate health and safety violations found by Washington Department of Labor and Industries inspectors since the start of 2021.
Brian Williquette, a chemical supplier for the region's mills, was at the plant when he heard an alarm over the intercom. He wondered if it was a drill and got out safely without seeing the damage. He called the event unfathomable at a community vigil.
Cause Remains Unknown
Authorities have not determined the cause of the implosion. Goldstein said they are not aware of the implosion being captured on video. The tank's unstable condition created hazardous conditions for emergency personnel.
Crystal Moldenhauer, a Longview resident, said she has friends at the plant who remained unaccounted for. She described families torn apart while people called and texted each other seeking answers. Murray, an official, assured the community that pressure would continue to get answers about how this happened.
This marks the second notable chemical incident on the West Coast in days after thousands of Southern California residents were evacuated due to a damaged chemical tank at an aerospace plant. Just over 40 people died between January 2021 and mid-October 2023 as a result of hazardous chemical incidents across the U.S.
Next Steps for Stabilization and Identification
Before any bodies can be recovered crews must first stabilize the tank which was at risk of collapsing further and leaking more of the caustic liquid. Officials could not say how long the recovery would take or where exactly all nine missing employees are located. A list of victims will be provided once individuals are recovered and families notified.
Gov. Bob Ferguson described the event as potentially the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history. Goldstein said they do not know yet whether to remove the product first or stabilize the tank first. Recovery efforts continued Wednesday with decontamination procedures in place for all recovered individuals.
