Hope is fading for nine workers missing after a tank implosion at a Washington state paper mill, as authorities confirmed on Wednesday that there is no expectation of finding survivors. The incident occurred on Tuesday at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co facility in Longview, where a tank containing a highly destructive chemical mixture known as "white liquor" ruptured, killing one person and injuring nine others.
Tank Stabilization Efforts Underway
Before recovery operations can proceed, crews must first stabilize the damaged tank, which remains at risk of further collapse and leakage of the caustic liquid. Officials stated that work would only be conducted during daylight hours due to the hazardous conditions. The cause of the implosion is still under investigation, but authorities have assured the community that there is no threat to public safety.
Community in Mourning
On Tuesday night, dozens of community members gathered for a vigil to pray, light candles, and support one another. Crystal Moldenhauer, a Longview resident with friends still unaccounted for at the plant, expressed the collective anxiety: "We're all still waiting for answers. There's families that have been torn apart, and we don't know why."
Details of the Incident
The tank held approximately 900,000 gallons (3.4 million liters) of white liquor, a mixture primarily composed of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide used in the kraft paper process. After the rupture, the liquid spilled into a drainage ditch, according to Brittny Goodsell, a spokesperson for the state ecology department. Scott Goldstein, fire chief for Cowlitz County, noted that the tank still contained about 90,000 gallons (over 340,000 liters) of the volatile liquid, complicating stabilization efforts.
Previous Safety Concerns
Safety complaints were filed against Nippon Dynawave in March and May, though the state's labor and industries department stated they were unrelated to the current incident. One anonymous complaint concerned a valve on a tank, which was not the one that imploded. Since 2021, the company has been fined $3,400 for three separate health and safety violations, according to the department's online database.
Broader Context
This incident follows another significant chemical tank failure on the West Coast, where thousands were evacuated in southern California due to a damaged tank at an aerospace plant. According to a report released by a network of environmental justice organizations, just over 40 people died from hazardous chemical incidents in the US between January 2021 and mid-October 2023.
The Longview plant, which employs around 1,000 people, produces materials for tissues, printing paper, cups, plates, and cartons. It is situated along the Columbia River alongside other timber, paper, and chemical businesses.
