Nine people remain missing after a devastating explosion at a paper mill in Washington state, with officials confirming on Tuesday night that there is no hope for survivors. The blast, which occurred at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in Longview, sent ten individuals to the hospital, including one person who later succumbed to their injuries.
Details of the Incident
The explosion happened at approximately 7:15 a.m. local time on Tuesday when a 900,000-gallon tank containing white liquor ruptured. White liquor is a highly caustic chemical used in the paper-making process. According to authorities, the blast resulted in significant structural damage and hazardous conditions.
Cowlitz Fire Chief Scott Goldstein stated during a press conference, "At the moment, we are not aware of any rescues that are yet to be made that are being hampered by the situation at hand." He added that an estimated 90,000 gallons of white liquor may still remain inside the damaged tank, posing a serious risk to first responders during recovery operations.
Ongoing Recovery Efforts
Fire crews are actively assessing the structural integrity of the tank and working on plans to stabilize it before additional recovery operations can proceed safely. Goldstein expressed hope that a stabilization plan would be in place by Wednesday. He emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the surrounding community.
Among the injured were eight employees from the facility and one firefighter who responded to the explosion. The identities of the victims have not yet been released, and the cause of the blast remains under investigation.
Official Responses
Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Washington Democrat, described the scene as "truly unthinkable horrors" for first responders and emergency workers. She expressed encouragement at the community's support for one another as they seek answers.
Battalion Chief Matt Amos from the Longview Fire Department described the dangers of white liquor, saying, "It would burn your skin. Basically, second to third degree burns." Multiple individuals suffered chemical burns and other injuries from the blast.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson offered condolences, stating, "Our thoughts and our prayers are with everybody impacted by this tragedy." He also commended the first responders for their tremendous work under extremely challenging conditions.
Background on the Facility
Nippon Dynawave Packaging employs approximately 550 workers at its pulp and paper mill in Longview, according to Washington's Department of Ecology. The mill produces around 280,000 tons of paperboard and wood pulp annually, and an additional 450 workers are employed at its liquid packaging plant. It remains unclear how many employees were on site at the time of the explosion.
The state's Labor and Industries Department noted that two inspections are currently open at Nippon, but neither is related to the explosion. One inspection, initiated in March, followed an anonymous complaint about a valve on an aqua ammonia clarifier tank, which was not the tank that imploded. The other, opened in May, concerned a complaint about a sinkhole created by a failed drain.
