Longview, Washington mill spill death toll rises to 11
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LONGVIEW, Washington, — Authorities in Longview, Washington, say 11 workers are now confirmed dead following a massive chemical spill at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company paper plant. The accident took place early Tuesday during a shift change when a 900,000-gallon (3.4-million-litre) storage tank holding highly caustic “white liquor” suffered a catastrophic structural failure and collapsed inward, releasing the chemical and flooding parts of the facility. White liquor, a strongly alkaline mixture primarily composed of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide, is used in the pulping process to break down wood chips for paper manufacturing. Initial reports on Wednesday confirmed two immediate fatalities and nine employees missing after the tank failure. LONGVIEW, Washington, — By Saturday, Longview Fire Chief Brad Hannig announced that search and rescue teams had recovered the bodies of all nine missing workers, bringing the death toll to 11 and formally ending the emergency search phase. The operation spanned several days and relied on specialized crews trained to navigate the flooded, hazardous environment created by the chemical release. Nippon Dynawave Packaging, a subsidiary of Japan-based Nippon Paper Group, is a major producer of single-serve food and beverage containers, with an annual output of about eight billion units that supplies customers in North America and other international markets. Officials say investigations into what caused the 900,000-gallon tank to rupture are continuing.
Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.
Timeline of Events
- Early Tuesday Tank holding white liquor collapses inward
- Early Tuesday Chemical spill floods mill work areas
- Wednesday Officials confirm two deaths, nine missing
- Wednesday Search and rescue operations begin onsite
- Thursday Specialized teams navigate hazardous flooded areas
- Friday Recovery efforts continue amid ongoing investigation
- Saturday Final missing employee remains recovered
- Saturday Authorities conclude emergency search phase
Why This Matters to You
This tragic event underscores the importance of workplace safety, especially in industries dealing with hazardous materials. If you or a loved one work in such an environment, ensure safety protocols are being followed. It's your right to a safe workplace.
The Bottom Line
Investigations into the cause of the tank rupture are ongoing. This incident is a stark reminder of the risks associated with chemical handling and storage. Worth forwarding if you know someone in the manufacturing industry.
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