One Dead, Nine Missing After Tank Implosion
A chemical storage tank at the Nippon Dynawave paper mill in Longview, Washington, collapsed, leaving one person dead, nine missing and nine injured, some critically. Emergency crews are conducting a daylight-only recovery to stabilise the tank — which still holds about 340,000 litres of caustic 'white liquor' — before searching for the missing and investigating the cause.
One person has died, nine are missing and nine suffered injuries after a large chemical storage tank imploded at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. pulp and paper mill in Longview, Washington, authorities said. Cowlitz County Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein described the response as a recovery operation and said crews planned to resume work Wednesday morning to stabilise the collapsed vessel, which still held roughly 340,000 litres of a corrosive mixture known as "white liquor." Officials said they would only operate in daylight because of the risk of additional leaking or collapse. "At the moment we are not aware of any rescues that are yet to be made," Goldstein told reporters.
White liquor, used in the kraft pulping process to break down wood, is highly caustic and consists mainly of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide. Authorities reported a range of injuries from minor to critical, including burns and inhalation injuries. A responding firefighter was among those hurt.
Officials said there was no threat to the public. Washington State Senator Patty Murray urged a full accounting of how the incident occurred. "I know there’s a lot of questions about how all of this happened and I want to assure you that we will all continue to pressure to get answers to those questions.
The Longview facility, owned by Nippon Dynawave, a subsidiary of Japan-based Nippon Paper Group, has operated in the area since 1953 and employs about 1,000 people. Goldstein noted the close ties between responders and the mill: many emergency personnel have friends or relatives who work at the plant, heightening the local impact and need for support networks.
Inspectors have recorded past safety complaints against the company; two complaints from March and May remain open but state authorities have said they are unrelated to this implosion. Since 2021, the Washington Department of Labour and Industries has cited the company for three health and safety violations and assessed modest fines totaling $3,400.
What this means for residents and businesses in the British Virgin Islands: there is no direct local risk from this incident, but it underscores the dangers of handling highly caustic industrial chemicals. Local manufacturers, boatyards and businesses that store or use strong alkalis should review safety procedures and emergency plans.
The implosion could also have modest downstream effects on supplies of kraft paper and packaging, so businesses that rely on those materials may wish to monitor shipping and pricing updates. Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the implosion. Recovery and search efforts will continue during daylight hours as crews work to stabilise the tank safely before conducting a full search for the missing.
Primary source: VINO