An electrician at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co paper mill in Longview, Washington, had raised safety concerns before a tank implosion that killed two people and left nine missing, presumed dead. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, is feared to be the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history, according to Governor Bob Ferguson.
The tank, holding approximately 600,000 gallons of 'white liquor'—a chemical mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide used in papermaking—ruptured, releasing the highly destructive substance. Authorities confirmed one death initially, with a second victim dying later in hospital. Seven workers remain hospitalised, including a firefighter who responded to the scene.
Recovery efforts began on Wednesday after delays due to safety concerns about the tank's structural integrity. The US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has launched an investigation into the implosion. Matt Amos of the Longview fire department stated that operations would be 'slow, methodical and deliberate', with victims undergoing decontamination before being transported to the coroner.
Safety complaints had been filed against Nippon Dynawave in March and May, though the Washington state labour and industries department said they were unrelated to the current incident. One complaint involved a valve on a tank, but not the one that imploded. The company, a subsidiary of Japan-based Nippon Paper Group, has been fined $3,400 for three separate health and safety violations.
The spill entered the Columbia River, with dead carp found and contamination detected. Officials urged the public to avoid ditches and dikes while water testing is conducted, but assured that air quality and drinking water in Longview remain safe. The Washington state department of ecology and the US Environmental Protection Agency are overseeing environmental impact assessments.
At a community vigil on Tuesday night, dozens gathered to pray and support each other. Crystal Moldenhauer, a Longview resident with friends unaccounted for at the plant, said, 'We’re all still waiting for answers. There’s families that have been torn apart, and we don’t know why.'
