The death toll has risen to 11 after a major industrial accident at a paper packaging facility in the US state of Washington, where a chemical storage tank ruptured earlier this week. Authorities confirmed that all nine missing workers have now been recovered following an extensive search operation.
The incident took place at a Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in the city of Longview, where a large tank containing a chemical solution known as “white liquor” collapsed. The substance, used in paper pulp production, contains sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide.
Officials said the initial blast killed two people instantly, while nine others were reported missing in the aftermath. Search and rescue teams worked for several days to locate victims inside the damaged industrial site.
Recovery efforts involved clearing debris from indoor areas of the facility and using drones to scan the surrounding perimeter. Emergency teams carefully navigated hazardous conditions as they searched through the wreckage of the collapsed structure.
Authorities confirmed on Saturday that the bodies of all nine missing workers had been recovered, bringing the total death toll to 11. Officials said the operation had now shifted from rescue to recovery and investigation.
The chemical tank involved in the incident reportedly contained around 900,000 gallons of white liquor, a highly alkaline industrial solution used in the paper manufacturing process. The tank failure caused a large-scale release of chemicals inside the facility.
Environmental officials also confirmed that contamination from the spill reached the nearby Columbia River. However, early tests indicated no immediate harmful effects on local drinking water supplies or air quality in surrounding communities.
Despite the contamination, authorities said there were no detected negative health impacts in nearby residential areas. Monitoring continues as environmental agencies assess the long-term effects of the spill on the river ecosystem.
The facility is operated by Nippon Dynawave Packaging, a subsidiary of Japan’s Nippon Paper Industries, one of the world’s largest paper manufacturers. The company acquired the plant in 2016 as part of its expansion into North American markets.
Investigators are now working to determine what caused the tank to fail. Early assessments have not confirmed whether structural failure, maintenance issues, or other technical problems were responsible for the explosion.
Local emergency officials described the response as complex due to the hazardous nature of the chemicals involved and the structural instability of the site after the collapse. Safety crews have remained at the scene to ensure no further leaks occur.
Residents in the surrounding area expressed concern following the incident, especially after reports that chemicals had entered nearby waterways. Authorities have urged the public to remain calm while environmental testing continues.
Industrial safety experts say incidents involving large chemical storage systems can pose serious risks if containment structures fail. Investigations into similar accidents often focus on equipment integrity, maintenance records, and safety protocols.
The tragedy has raised renewed questions about industrial safety standards in chemical processing facilities across the United States. Officials say the findings from this investigation could lead to stricter oversight if systemic issues are identified.
As recovery efforts conclude, attention is now shifting to supporting the families of the victims and ensuring a full technical investigation into what led to one of the deadliest industrial accidents in the region in recent years.
