Chemical Tank Implosion At Washington Paper Mill Causes Fatalities
An 80,000-gallon chemical tank at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging pulp and paper mill in Longview, Washington, imploded about 7:15 a.m. Tuesday, killing workers and injuring at least 10 people.[1]
Authorities said injuries ranged from minor to critical and included burns and inhalation injuries, and a responding firefighter was also hurt.[1] About 40 firefighters, paramedics and a regional hazmat team decontaminated patients before transporting them to hospitals in Longview and Vancouver, Washington.[1] Officials confirmed there have been fatalities but declined to specify how many workers were killed or remain missing.[1]
Cowlitz Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein said the tank held white liquor and was about 60 percent full when it imploded, and he said the cause remains undetermined.[1] The ruptured container released white liquor, a corrosive mix mainly of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide, which spilled into a drainage ditch and prompted the Washington State Department of Ecology to send a response team.[1]
Battalion Chief Mike Gorsuch described the scene as a mass-casualty incident.[1] Recovery operations were ongoing more than four hours after the implosion, and officials said there was no immediate threat to the public.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- About 7:15 a.m. local time on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, an implosion occurred at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging pulp and paper mill in Longview, Washington.
- Officials confirmed there have been fatalities but declined to specify how many workers were killed or remain missing, and they said at least 10 people were injured, including a responding firefighter, with injuries ranging from minor to critical (burns and inhalation injuries).
- Cowlitz Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein said the 80,000-gallon white liquor tank was about 60 percent full when it imploded and that the cause of the implosion remains undetermined.
- The ruptured tank released white liquor, a corrosive mixture mainly of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide used in kraft paper production, which spilled into a drainage ditch; the Washington State Department of Ecology sent a team to assess environmental impacts.
- About 40 firefighters and paramedics and a regional hazmat team responded, decontaminated patients and transported them to hospitals in Longview and Vancouver; Battalion Chief Mike Gorsuch described the scene as a mass-casualty incident, and recovery operations were ongoing more than four hours after the implosion while authorities said there was no immediate threat to the public.
- The mill, located along the Columbia River, employs about 1,000 people, according to the Washington State Department of Ecology.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
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- The implosion occurred at about 7:15 a.m. local time on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging pulp and paper mill in Longview, Washington.
- Authorities said at least 10 people were injured, including a responding firefighter, with injuries ranging from minor to critical and involving burns and inhalation injuries.
- Officials confirmed there have been fatalities but declined to specify how many workers were killed or how many remain missing, saying that information will not yet be released.
- Cowlitz Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein said the 80,000-gallon white liquor tank was about 60 percent full when it imploded and that the cause of the implosion remains undetermined.
- Battalion Chief Mike Gorsuch of the Longview Fire Department described the incident as a mass-casualty scene; about 40 firefighters and paramedics and a regional hazmat team responded and decontaminated patients before transporting them to hospitals in Longview and Vancouver, Washington.
- The ruptured tank released white liquor, a corrosive mixture mainly of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide used in kraft paper production, which spilled into a drainage ditch; the Washington State Department of Ecology sent a team to assess environmental impacts.
- Authorities stated there was no immediate threat to the public, and recovery operations were ongoing as of more than four hours after the implosion.
- The mill, located along the Columbia River, employs about 1,000 people, according to the Washington State Department of Ecology.