Washington: A massive chemical explosion at a paper mill in Washington state has left at least one person dead, nine others missing, and several injured, authorities confirmed.
The blast occurred around 7:15 a.m. local time on May 26, at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in Longview, located roughly 130 miles south of Seattle. Emergency crews rushed to the scene after a storage tank containing hazardous chemicals ruptured inside the plant.
Officials said the explosion involved a tank filled with ‘white liquor,’ a highly corrosive chemical commonly used in paper manufacturing. The substance contains sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide, both considered dangerous industrial chemicals.
Authorities initially believed the tank held about 80,000 gallons of the chemical, but later revised the estimate to nearly 900,000 gallons. Around 90,000 gallons may remain inside the damaged structure, raising concerns about further instability.
The Longview Fire Department confirmed that one person has died while nine others remain unaccounted for. Recovery operations have been slowed due to dangerous conditions at the site. At least ten people were injured in the incident, including nine plant employees and one firefighter. Injuries range from severe burns and inhalation injuries to minor wounds. Several victims remain in critical condition.
Cowlitz Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein said crews are working to reinforce the damaged structure before additional search and recovery efforts can continue safely. Authorities stressed that the situation does not currently pose a threat to the wider community, and no evacuation orders have been issued.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said state ecology officials had been deployed to assist local emergency teams. Ferguson remarked that, “I’m deeply saddened to hear that there have been fatalities. My thoughts are with the workers, their families, and the first responders.” Drone images from the scene showed the collapsed chemical tank surrounded by industrial buildings and emergency response vehicles.
The Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility employs around 1,000 workers and manufactures tissues, printer paper, cartons, cups, plates, and other paper products. The plant had previously experienced a major fire in 2023 when large wood piles burned for several days.
The explosion comes with heightened concerns over industrial chemical safety in the United States. In California, officials recently managed to stabilise another chemical tank that had threatened to explode, prompting evacuation warnings for nearly 50,000 residents.
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