The death toll from a chemical tank rupture at a pulp and paper mill in Longview, Washington, has risen to 11 after crews recovered the bodies of all nine missing people, authorities confirmed on Saturday.
The incident occurred on Tuesday at a Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility when a tank containing approximately 900,000 gallons (3.4 million liters) of white liquor imploded. White liquor is a chemical solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide used in the paper pulp manufacturing process.
Initially, two fatalities were confirmed, and a search operation continued throughout the week. Recovery crews worked through debris in indoor areas and deployed drones over the perimeter of the site, according to Kurt Stitch, deputy chief of the Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue Department.
Officials reported that tests confirmed contamination from the ruptured tank entered the nearby Columbia River. However, they stated that no negative health impacts have been detected on air quality or the drinking water supply for the city of Longview.
Background on the Facility
Nippon Paper Industries, Japan's second-largest paper manufacturer by sales, acquired the Longview plant from Seattle-based timber company Weyerhaeuser for $225 million in 2016. The company established the wholly owned subsidiary Nippon Dynawave Packaging to operate the facility.
The investigation into the cause of the tank rupture is ongoing. Authorities continue to monitor environmental conditions and ensure public safety in the surrounding areas.
