WASHINGTON: The death toll from a chemical tank explosion at a paper mill in the US state of Washington has risen to 11.
Authorities confirmed that rescue teams recovered the bodies of all people who were missing after the incident. Two deaths were confirmed earlier after a storage tank at the Nippon Dyna-wave packaging facility ruptured on Tuesday. The tank contained a chemical known as “white liquor,” which is used in paper pulp production. The solution includes sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide.
Emergency crews searched the site throughout the week. They worked through heavy debris inside the facility. Teams also used drones to check surrounding areas and support the search operation. Officials from Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue said the recovery effort was complex and slow due to the damaged structure.
The ruptured tank held around 900,000 gallons of the chemical mixture. Authorities confirmed that some contamination reached the nearby Columbia River. However, they said early tests did not show any negative impact on air quality. They also reported no immediate danger to the drinking water supply in the city of Longview.
The death toll from a chemical tank rupture in the US state of Washington climbed to 11 as crews recovered the bodies of all nine missing people, authorities said yesterday.https://t.co/IxQINIPmvm
— The Daily Star (@dailystarnews) May 31, 2026
Environmental monitoring is still ongoing. Officials are continuing to assess the full impact of the spill on the surrounding area and river ecosystem. Residents have been advised to remain alert while updates are provided.
Nippon Paper Industries, Japan’s second largest paper company by sales, owns the facility. The company bought the Longview plant from Weyerhaeuser, a US timber company based in Seattle, for $225 million. It later formed Nippon Dyna-wave Packaging as a fully owned subsidiary in 2016 to operate the site.
Authorities are now investigating the cause of the tank failure. Safety checks at similar facilities may also be reviewed following the incident. Officials say more details will be shared as the investigation continues.
