Chemical Tank Implodes at Washington Paper Mill, Killing One and Leaving Nine Missing

A tank containing nearly 900,000 gallons of highly corrosive white liquor imploded Tuesday at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. pulp and paper mill in Longview, Washington, killing at least one worker and leaving nine others unaccounted for. Nine additional people were injured in the incident, including eight mill employees and one responding firefighter.

Injuries ranged from minor to critical and included burns and inhalation damage.

Incident Details The rupture occurred at approximately 7:15 a.m. PDT.

Officials initially estimated the tank held about 80,000 gallons but later revised the figure to roughly 900,000 gallons, with about 90,000 gallons remaining inside the damaged structure. Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein said recovery efforts would not resume until Wednesday morning because responders first need to stabilize the tank.

Work will be limited to daylight hours due to the risk of further leaks. “There’s families that have been torn apart, and we don’t know why,” Crystal Moldenhauer, a local resident, said at a community vigil held Tuesday evening.

Authorities stated there is no threat to the surrounding community. The state Department of Ecology dispatched personnel to assess environmental impacts after the liquid spilled into a drainage ditch. Two prior safety complaints filed against the facility on March 4 and May 6 remain open but are unrelated to the tank that failed, according to the Washington Department of Labor and Industries.

The mill, which dates to 1953 and employs about 1,000 people, produces materials used in tissues, printing paper, cups, plates and cartons. It is a subsidiary of Japan-based Nippon Paper Group. " — U.S. Sen.