A devastating industrial accident at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. facility in Longview, Washington, has left one person dead, nine workers missing, and several others hospitalized. The incident occurred around 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday when a massive, 900,000-gallon industrial storage tank experienced a sudden structural implosion and rupture. The tank contained “white liquor”—a highly corrosive alkaline chemical composed primarily of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide, which is used to break down wood chips during paper processing.
PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center confirmed receiving nine victims, including one deceased individual. Emergency officials noted that eight plant employees and one firefighter sustained injuries, with several suffering from severe chemical burns and smoke inhalation. Due to the intensity of their injuries, four patients were transferred to the Legacy Oregon Burn Center in Portland. Perilous conditions and structural instability have heavily restricted search and recovery efforts. Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein indicated that approximately 90,000 gallons of the hazardous fluid remain trapped inside the compromised structure, forcing a suspension of operations until daylight. Authorities stated there is “no hope” of finding any remaining survivors among the missing.
Environmental teams from the Washington State Department of Ecology were dispatched to the site after the toxic chemical solution escaped into a local drainage system. While responders successfully deactivated nearby pumps to prevent the corrosive agent from entering the Columbia River, state officials emphasized that there is “no immediate threat to the public.”
A formal investigation into the exact cause of the disaster is underway, with the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board launching an inquiry. Expressing solidarity with the community, Governor Bob Ferguson stated during a press briefing, “On behalf of the people in the state of Washington, I want all those individuals to know that we stand with you,” adding, “We’ll be here to do everything we can to help with the situation, and we’ll be here as long as it takes.”
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