1 dead, 9 missing after chemical tank ruptures at Washington mill

A ruptured chemical tank tore through Nippon Dynawave Packaging in Longview, Washington, leaving at least one person dead, nine workers missing, and several others injured by burns and inhalation after a white-liquor vessel failed inside the mill. One firefighter was also taken for treatment, as emergency crews moved through a scene officials described as unstable and dangerous.

The damaged vessel held white liquor, a corrosive chemical used in the paper-making process. The Longview Fire Department said the tank remained unstable after the rupture, making recovery efforts hazardous. Officials later determined the vessel was far larger than first estimated, about 900,000 gallons, with roughly 90,000 gallons still potentially inside the structure.

The human toll spread quickly beyond the plant gates. Cowlitz County directed family members to a family assistance center at the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers Local 153 hall in Longview, where relatives gathered while responders and social workers helped them. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson said he was heading to Longview to meet with responders, and state environmental and workplace regulators were on scene as National Guard teams were placed on alert.

The accident exposed the risks of a major industrial site that sits at 300 Fibre Way and operates under close state oversight. The Washington State Department of Ecology says the mill employs around 1,000 workers and produces about 3,600 tons of paper and corrugated products and 2,800 tons of unbleached pulp each day. The facility also discharges treated wastewater into the Columbia River, putting the plant’s safety performance under added scrutiny when an incident threatens both workers and nearby waterways.

The Longview site has also carried a heavy industrial history in recent years. A major warehouse fire broke out there last year, and a wood-chip plant fire struck the same complex in 2023, reinforcing concerns in a community that has watched repeated emergencies unfold at one of the region’s largest manufacturing operations. With one worker confirmed dead and nine people still missing, investigators now face urgent questions about what failed inside the mill, how the tank ruptured, and whether warning signs were missed before the blast.