Authorities in Longview, Washington, say at least 11 workers are dead after a chemical storage tank exploded and collapsed on July 26 at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. paper mill, a subsidiary of Nippon Paper Industries. The tank, holding about 3.41 million liters of highly corrosive “white liquor” used in pulping, suffered an internal implosion that remains under investigation. An estimated 2.08–2.16 million liters leaked, with residual chemicals still seeping and contaminants confirmed in the nearby Columbia River, where dozens of carp have been found dead. Officials report no immediate impacts to air quality or drinking water, while recovery and decontamination of remains continue.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.