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Chemical Tank Implodes: 11 Dead in Plant Tragedy
6 Jun
Summary
- A chemical tank imploded at the Nippon Dynawave plant, killing 11 people.
- Hundreds of thousands of gallons of white liquor spilled into local waterways.
- The cause of the May 26 incident remains under investigation.
A devastating incident occurred at the Nippon Dynawave paper mill in Longview, Washington, on May 26. A chemical tank containing hundreds of thousands of gallons of white liquor ruptured, leading to its implosion and the deaths of 11 workers. This event has been declared the deadliest industrial tragedy in Washington state history.
The implosion released a significant amount of the highly acidic chemical into the local stormwater outfalls and canal system, impacting the environment and causing fish deaths. Emergency crews worked tirelessly to recover the bodies of all missing employees by Saturday.
Multiple state agencies, including the National Guard and various environmental and labor departments, were mobilized to assist with the cleanup and ongoing investigation. As of the reporting date, the exact cause of the tank's failure remains undetermined. The Nippon Dynawave plant employs approximately 1,000 people across its pulp and paper mill and liquid packaging operations.
