Video shows devastation after chemical tank implosion in Longview plant

The video left little doubt about the force of the blast inside Nippon Dynawave Packaging in Longview, Washington: twisted metal, shattered debris and a worksite ripped open by the implosion of a massive chemical tank. The rupture hit around 7:15 a.m. Tuesday at the plant on Industrial Way along the Columbia River, turning a routine morning shift into a major industrial emergency.

Authorities said two people were killed and nine others were still missing and presumed dead. Nine workers were initially hospitalized after the incident, including some with serious burns and smoke inhalation injuries, and one firefighter was also reported injured. By Wednesday, four patients treated at PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center had been transferred to other hospitals, including the Legacy Oregon Burn Center, while four others had been discharged.

The damaged tank was reported to hold about 900,000 gallons of white liquor, a caustic chemical mixture used in the kraft pulping process to break wood chips into pulp and make paper. Responders estimated that tens of thousands of gallons may have been released, while roughly 90,000 gallons may still have remained inside the damaged vessel. The plant employs roughly 1,000 workers, underscoring how deeply the accident struck one of the city’s major industrial sites.

Recovery work was paused Tuesday night because the tank and surrounding structure remained unstable. Officials said the scene had to be reinforced and stabilized before decontamination and recovery efforts could continue. State Department of Ecology, Labor & Industries, Emergency Management and National Guard personnel were mobilized or placed on alert to support search operations, recovery work and air-quality monitoring, while hazardous materials crews stayed on scene.

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson said he was bracing for the disaster to become the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history. Longview Mayor Erik Halvorson said the city was in a period of profound tragedy and deep mourning. The federal Chemical Safety Board said it was opening an investigation as questions mounted over the plant’s maintenance, emergency planning and whether warning signs were missed before the tank failed.