At least 10 people were injured and an undisclosed number were killed or remain missing after a chemical tank imploded at a pulp and paper mill in southwestern Washington state, authorities have said. In a joint statement, Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. and local emergency agencies confirmed there had been fatalities following the incident at the company’s facility in Longview on Tuesday morning.
Cowlitz Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein told a news conference it was still unclear how many workers had died. Asked about the number of missing people, he said: “We have information on that, but we’re not releasing that information.”
Officials said some of the injured suffered burns and inhalation injuries, with conditions ranging from minor to critical. A firefighter responding to the emergency was also among those hurt. Authorities said there was no immediate threat to the wider public.
The statement, issued more than four hours after the implosion at about 07:15 local time, said recovery operations were continuing and that the identities of victims would not be released until relatives had been informed.
Some people gathered outside the company’s visitor entrance seeking information about relatives working at the site, but declined to comment publicly. The facility, located along the Columbia River near the Washington-Oregon border, produces pulp, paper and liquid packaging materials. The plant employs about 1,000 people and manufactures products including tissues, printing paper, cups, plates and cartons.
Chief Goldstein said the imploded tank held about 80,000 gallons of “white liquor” and was around 60% full at the time of the incident. The chemical mixture, primarily made up of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide, is used in the production of kraft paper.
“It was too early to determine the cause of the implosion,” he said.
Mike Gorsuch, a battalion chief with the Longview fire department, described the incident as a “mass casualty scene”. He said around 40 firefighters and paramedics responded alongside a regional hazardous materials team. Victims were decontaminated before being transported to hospitals in Longview and nearby Vancouver, Washington.
Following the rupture, some of the chemical substance spilled into a drainage ditch, according to Brittny Goodsell, a spokesperson for the state Department of Ecology. The department said it had sent a team to assess any environmental impact.
The city of Longview, home to about 38,000 people, has longstanding ties to the timber and paper industries. Chief Goldstein noted the personal impact of the incident on the local community.
“The people who are responders here have friends and relatives that work on site,” he said. “It is something that is impactful, and we have support networks to support the workers as well as the emergency responders.” In a statement, Patty Murray described the incident as an “absolute tragedy”.
“My heart is with everyone who lost a loved one today — as well as the injured workers,” she said.
