On Tuesday, a large chemical storage tank containing millions of liters of a highly corrosive substance collapsed and imploded at a paper mill in Washington, resulting in the death of at least one worker and leaving nine others missing, with no prospects for rescue, according to officials.
Additionally, nine individuals sustained injuries, some of which were serious, during the incident at Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. in Longview. The reason for the explosion was still under investigation.
Cowlitz Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein stated during a news briefing Tuesday evening that “currently, we are not aware of any rescues that have been made,” as officials described the situation as a recovery operation.
Goldstein indicated that recovery efforts would be paused until Wednesday morning, when emergency teams intended to work on stabilizing the fallen tank, which still contained over 340,000 liters of a chemical mixture referred to as “white liquor,” before continuing the search for those unaccounted for.
Authorities reported that some victims experienced burns or inhalation injuries, with the severity of these injuries varying from minor to critical. A firefighter responding to the situation was among the injured.
Individuals hold pictures of loved ones during a vigil in Longview, Wash., in the aftermath of a fatal chemical tank failure on Tuesday. (Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images)
Officials noted that operations would only take place in daylight due to the risk of further leaks of the hazardous liquid and the potential for additional collapses.
“We won’t know how to stabilize the tank until we assess the situation, hopefully by tomorrow. Should we extract the product first, or stabilize the tank first, or do we do both?” Goldstein explained.
Authorities assured that there was no danger to the surrounding community.
At a community vigil held on Tuesday night, a large crowd gathered at a local park to pray, light candles, and comfort each other.
‘Still waiting for answers’
Crystal Moldenhauer, a resident of Longview and former school board member, mentioned that she has friends employed at the plant who remain unaccounted for. She described the anxiety experienced throughout the day as friends and family reached out to one another seeking information about the incident.
“We are all still waiting for answers,” she stated. “Families have been devastated, and we don’t understand why this happened.”
At the conclusion of the news conference, two distraught parents, whose two sons work at the facility, expressed their frustration over not having been contacted. While officials, including Governor Bob Ferguson, Senator Patty Murray, and Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez addressed the audience, no representatives from the company spoke at the event.
Some individuals gathered at the company’s visitor entrance on Tuesday, searching for updates on their relatives employed at the plant. They chose not to speak to an Associated Press reporter. At a nearby union hall designated as a family support center, three women were seen embracing tearfully before entering the building. Others arriving and leaving the location also appeared visibly upset.
Cowlitz Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein mentioned, ‘the responders here have friends and family who work on site.’ (Claire Rush/The Associated Press)
The Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. facility operates as both a pulp and paper mill as well as a liquid packaging plant along the Columbia River in Longview, which has a population of approximately 38,000. The city has been intertwined with the paper and lumber industries since its establishment by a timber magnate from Kansas City in the 1920s.
This facility, which has been operational since 1953 and employs around 1,000 workers, manufactures products for tissues, printing paper, cups, plates, cartons, and various other goods. It is situated in an industrial area that is home to other timber, paper, and chemical companies, making it a vital part of the local economy.
Initially, officials indicated that the tank had a capacity of 303,000 liters, but this was later corrected to approximately 3.4 million liters of “white liquor,” enough to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool one and a half times.
This liquid primarily consists of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide and is utilized with heat to decompose wood for the production of kraft paper, a strong material commonly used in packaging and shopping bags.
Goldstein noted that it was too early to ascertain the cause of the tank’s collapse.
The Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. facility produces materials for tissues, printing paper, cups, plates, cartons, and other products. (David Ryder/Reuters)
Mike Gorsuch, a battalion chief with the fire department, described the incident as a “mass casualty scene.” He reported that first responders had decontaminated victims and transported them to hospitals in Longview and Vancouver, Washington.
Around 40 firefighters and paramedics were involved in the response, along with a regional hazardous materials team, according to Gorsuch.
After the tank ruptured, white liquor leaked into a drainage ditch, as stated by Brittny Goodsell, a spokesperson for the state Ecology Department. The department dispatched a team to assess the situation and its effects, Goodsell confirmed.
Previous fines
Nippon Dynawave, a subsidiary of Japan’s Nippon Paper Group, has faced a total of $3,400 US in fines for three distinct health and safety violations identified by inspectors from the Washington Department of Labor and Industries since early 2021, as per the department’s online records.
In one inspection, the company was cited for not ensuring all employees wore face coverings when necessary. In another instance, an inspector found that an employee was at risk of falling while working on a platform exceeding 1.2 meters in height without fall protection measures.
In a third case, it was determined that equipment involved in a workplace accident, which resulted in an amputated finger, had been moved from its original position before the state completed its investigation.
Records from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration indicate that safety complaints were lodged against Nippon Dynawave on March 4 and May 6, but both cases remain open, with further details on the complaints not available online. OSHA officials have not responded promptly to a request for more information.
