US Paper Mill Disaster: 2 Killed, 9 Missing After Chemical Tank Explosion in Washington State
The death toll from a chemical tank implosion at a paper mill in Longview in the US state of Washington rose to two, and nine others remain missing and are presumed dead, local officials said. The incident involved a tank containing "white liquor," a corrosive chemical solution used in pulp and paper processing, with a capacity of about 900,000 gallons, officials said on Wednesday (local time).
Washington, May 28: The death toll from a chemical tank implosion at a paper mill in Longview in the US state of Washington rose to two, and nine others remain missing and are presumed dead, local officials said. The incident involved a tank containing "white liquor," a corrosive chemical solution used in pulp and paper processing, with a capacity of about 900,000 gallons, officials said on Wednesday (local time).
The US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board announced Wednesday that it had opened an investigation into the incident and that a team of its investigators would be arriving at the site. Local fire officials said the tank released a large amount of the corrosive chemical, noting that recovery efforts would be "slow, methodical and deliberate" due to the structural instability of the damaged tank and the risk of exposure to corrosive chemicals, reports Xinhua news agency. RFK Jr Snake Catching Viral Video: US Health Secretary Shares New Clip Showing Him Capturing Venomous Western Diamondback Rattlesnake.
Any recovered victims would undergo decontamination before being transported to the coroner's office for identification and family notification, officials added. Local officials said the rupture had not affected the safety of air and drinking water in Longview, though some contamination had reached the Columbia River, and testing was ongoing.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said Wednesday that officials were bracing for the possibility that the incident could become "the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history." The tank implosion occurred at a facility operated by Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co., a subsidiary of Japan's Nippon Paper Group. Dhaval Amratbhai Patel Case: Indian-Origin Man Living Illegally in US Assaults Man With Baseball Bat After Argument; Arrested.
A company official said Wednesday that the company was focused on helping emergency responders search for the missing and supporting the victims' families and employees. The cause of the incident remains under investigation.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 28, 2026 10:18 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).