Search crews continue recovery efforts at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. facility in Longview, Washington, after a 900,000-gallon chemical tank ruptured on Tuesday morning.
At least two workers have been confirmed dead, eight were injured, and nine remain missing and are presumed dead. Officials warned that recovery operations will be slow and methodical due to the hazardous nature of the site.
Incident Details
The tank, containing a chemical mixture known as white liquor used in paper-making, ruptured around 7:30 a.m., releasing approximately 500,000 gallons of the corrosive substance.
Exposure to white liquor can cause severe burns on contact and irritate the respiratory system if inhaled. The spill also entered the Columbia River, though officials confirmed there is no current threat to city air quality or drinking water.
Fire officials initially halted recovery due to instability concerns, but the tank has now been deemed stable, allowing crews to continue work. Injured workers included seven employees and one firefighter, with some transferred to other hospitals. One individual who was transported from the scene later died.
Victims and Community Impact
Gilbert Bernal, a father and grandfather, is one of the confirmed fatalities. His family is awaiting official coroner confirmation. Residents of Longview, a city of about 40,000, expressed grief and anxiety, holding vigils for the missing and deceased. The plant employs roughly 1,000 people, many of whom have friends or family affected by the incident.
Environmental Concerns
Officials reported that the chemical contamination affected the Columbia River, prompting containment and monitoring efforts.
The Department of Ecology, Environmental Protection Agency, Coast Guard, and local agencies have formed a task force to manage environmental impacts. Pumping operations were resumed to draw contaminated water away from residential areas, and the public was urged to avoid dikes and drainage ditches near the site.
Ongoing Investigations
The site was already under two unrelated inspections prior to the rupture—one concerning a valve on a clarifier tank and another related to a sinkhole near a drain. Previous inspections in the past five years had cited the facility for general safety violations.
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board has launched a separate probe to determine the cause of the rupture and recommend measures to prevent future incidents.
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson confirmed deployment of 46 National Guard members, including 10 civil support team members, to assist with air and water quality monitoring.
Recovery and Response
Officials confirmed that recovery operations would continue cautiously, with recovered bodies transported to the coroner’s office. Hospital staff have treated injuries ranging from chemical burns to airway irritation, and some victims have been discharged.
The incident is part of a troubling trend of chemical accidents at U.S. industrial facilities in recent months, underscoring the importance of stringent safety protocols.
