Six Recovered Dead in Nippon Dynawave Explosion Raise Toll to Eight

Six of the nine missing workers were recovered dead after the nippon dynawave explosion at the Nippon Dynawave paper mill in Longview, Washington. The confirmed death toll now stands at eight after a chemical vat implosion that struck during a shift change at the site on 3401 Industrial Way.

One person died at the scene and another died after being taken to a hospital. Eight others, including a firefighter, were injured and taken to area hospitals, with some of the injured treated at the Oregon Burn Center.

Longview Recovery Work

The bodies were found near the employee breakroom area, where recovery crews had been working after safety concerns delayed the search around the damaged tank. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson called it "the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history" at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

Recovery crews had to wait while officials checked the condition of the 900,000 gallon tank that held white liquor. An inspection later found about 25,000 gallons of product remained in the tank, after earlier estimates put the amount still inside at about 90,000 gallons.

Washington State Agencies

Soldiers and airmen from the Washington National Guard’s 10th Homeland Response Force joined the recovery effort to provide decontamination support. People recovered from the site will undergo decontamination before being transported to the Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office for identification and family notification.

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board said it will begin an investigation into the implosion. The Washington State Department of Ecology and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are monitoring air and water quality after some of the chemical made its way into the Columbia River.

Cowlitz County Response

County crews are flushing contaminated water with supplies drawn from the Cowlitz River and fire hydrants. Officials said the goal is to move the polluted water away from residential areas and the city’s water supply before it is diluted enough to be safely discharged into the Columbia River.

Officials also said there was no danger to the surrounding community and urged people to report strange smells or liquids in culverts or other low-lying areas. Three workers remain missing and are presumed dead as the recovery and identification work continues in Longview.