Authorities in Longview, Washington, report two confirmed fatalities and nine missing workers following a chemical tank implosion at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company facility on Tuesday morning.
Fatalities and Ongoing Search
The death toll from Tuesday’s industrial accident at the Longview paper mill may rise to 11. Following the recovery of a second body, local emergency services continue the search for nine missing employees, though officials stated there is no chance of finding them alive.
Chemical Tank Implosion
The incident occurred Tuesday morning at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company plant when a large chemical storage tank imploded. The cause of the accident remains unknown.
Initial reports indicated one fatality and numerous injuries, with victims suffering from chemical burns and respiratory trauma after inhaling toxic substances. Authorities confirmed there is no threat to the city or surrounding areas but advised the public to avoid the facility.
Contamination of the Columbia River
Fire department officials reported that testing confirmed chemical contaminants reached the nearby Columbia River. According to Reuters, local water supplies remain unaffected.
Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company is a subsidiary of the Tokyo-based Nippon Paper Group, a global leader in pulp and paper manufacturing. The Longview plant employs approximately 1,000 workers and produces materials including beverage carton packaging.