Mill Knew Tank Was Unfit 10 Months Before Deadly Blast
PUBLISHED Aug 29, 2026, 7:54 AM ET
A federal investigation has revealed that a chemical storage tank at a Washington state paper mill was deemed unsafe for service months before it catastrophically failed, resulting in one of the deadliest U.S. workplace disasters in recent decades. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board released findings regarding the May incident at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company mill in Longview, Washington. According to investigators, an inspection contractor found significant wall thinning below minimum safe thresholds in July, classifying the container as unfit for service without corrective action. Subsequent external inspections in October and February confirmed the persistent structural degradation, yet the facility kept the tank in operation. On May 26, the 1.2-million-gallon atmospheric storage vessel ruptured, releasing approximately 900,000 gallons of hot, caustic white liquor. The toxic flood and structural collapse trapped employees attending morning meetings, killing eleven workers and injuring several others. Federal probes into the exact root cause remain ongoing.
By James Porter | JQJO News
Left: Emphasize corporate negligence, regulatory enforcement failures, and worker protections. Center: Report objective investigative facts, official findings, and incident timelines. Right: Focus on individual corporate accountability, operational compliance, and legal liabilities.
U.S. Chemical Safety Board released update on mill tank blast on June 5, 2026. https://www.csb.gov/nippon-dynawave-packaging-company-release/
Coverage of Story:
From Left
Paper mill tank that burst and killed 11 workers was flagged as unsafe months prior
CNN NPR The Washington Post LA Times The Guardian MSNBCFrom Center
Mill Knew Tank Was Unfit 10 Months Before Deadly Blast
JQJO Reuters Associated Press The Seattle Times Wall Street Journal ABC News NBC News CBS News Bloomberg USA Today Politico Time Newsweek The Hill CNBC Forbes Business Insider Christian Science Monitor PBS NewsHourFrom Right
Deadly Washington mill explosion happened after inspectors warned tank was unfit for service
Fox News New York Post National Review Daily Mail Epoch Times Fox Business
Comments