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LONGVIEW, Washington – A catastrophic industrial accident at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging pulp and paper mill on May 26, 2026, occurred when a 3.4 million-liter chemical storage tank ruptured, releasing a massive volume of highly alkaline “white liquor,” a mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide. The rupture happened during an early morning shift change, damaging vehicles, buildings, and critical equipment across the facility. Emergency response teams, including Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue, arrived to find a large-scale industrial scene with significant structural impacts and widespread contamination from the spilled chemical solution. By May 28, authorities confirmed at least two fatalities and shifted operations from rescue to recovery as nine additional people remained missing and feared dead. Ten other individuals sustained injuries ranging from minor to critical, prompting an extensive on-site medical and safety response. Specialist firefighters stabilized the facility and secured the remaining 95,000 liters in the damaged tank, limiting the immediate risk of further uncontrolled leakage. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson described the accident as potentially the deadliest industrial tragedy in the state’s modern history. Nippon Dynawave Packaging, a subsidiary of Japan’s Nippon Paper Group, faces an ongoing investigation into the cause of the tank failure.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.