Longview paper mill disaster could be ‘deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history’

Key Points:

• The confirmed death toll from a chemical tank rupture at Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. in Longview has risen to two, with nine others presumed dead, making it potentially the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history.
• The chemical release involved tens of thousands of gallons of white liquor, a caustic compound used in paper production, with about 25,000 gallons still leaking from a structurally unstable 900,000-gallon tank.
• Rescue and recovery efforts are ongoing but slow and cautious due to safety concerns, with victims undergoing decontamination before identification; the nine missing are presumed dead by local officials.
• Federal and state investigators, including the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, have launched investigations to determine the cause of the tank failure and prevent future incidents.
• Nippon Dynawave, a major local employer with about 1,000 workers, and community leaders emphasize the importance of safety and environmental monitoring, while assuring no current danger to the wider community.