A major explosion struck the Nippon Dynawave Packaging plant in Longview, Washington, on Saturday morning. The blast came from a ruptured tank that stored more than 900,000 gallons of white liquor – a strongly alkaline mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide used in paper manufacture.
The explosion, which occurred at 07:15 PDT (15:15 GMT), left one worker dead and nine other employees missing from the facility. Local fire crews have confirmed that eight of the injured are on‑site staff and one is a responding firefighter. Injuries range from critical to minor, with several individuals suffering burns and inhalation damage.
Longview Fire Department spokesman Scott Goldstein told reporters the tank remains unstable and hazardous. “We are continuing efforts to reinforce and stabilize the structure before we can safely proceed with recovery operations,” Goldstein said. He added that the site is contained and that no evacuation of the surrounding community is required.
The plant, home to about 1,000 workers, manufactures tissues, printer paper, cups, plates, cartons, and other paper products. Ten people had been taken to hospital with injuries – though a more detailed breakdown of the injuries is yet to be released.
State officials, including Governor Bob Ferguson, have dispatched ecological and environmental teams to the scene. “I’m deeply saddened to hear that there have been fatalities,” Ferguson remarked. “My thoughts are with the workers, their families, and the first responders.”
In the wake of this disaster, the facility’s past – a large fire in July 2023 that engulfed timber stacks for days – is being scrutinized. Meanwhile, emergency responders in Orange County, California, have recently reported the successful neutralization of a similarly threatening chemical tank.
With no announced evacuation order and the fire department reporting a stable scene, the focus remains on locating the missing workers and managing the chemical hazard while ensuring the safety of nearby residents.
The explosion, which occurred at 07:15 PDT (15:15 GMT), left one worker dead and nine other employees missing from the facility. Local fire crews have confirmed that eight of the injured are on‑site staff and one is a responding firefighter. Injuries range from critical to minor, with several individuals suffering burns and inhalation damage.
Longview Fire Department spokesman Scott Goldstein told reporters the tank remains unstable and hazardous. “We are continuing efforts to reinforce and stabilize the structure before we can safely proceed with recovery operations,” Goldstein said. He added that the site is contained and that no evacuation of the surrounding community is required.
The plant, home to about 1,000 workers, manufactures tissues, printer paper, cups, plates, cartons, and other paper products. Ten people had been taken to hospital with injuries – though a more detailed breakdown of the injuries is yet to be released.
State officials, including Governor Bob Ferguson, have dispatched ecological and environmental teams to the scene. “I’m deeply saddened to hear that there have been fatalities,” Ferguson remarked. “My thoughts are with the workers, their families, and the first responders.”
In the wake of this disaster, the facility’s past – a large fire in July 2023 that engulfed timber stacks for days – is being scrutinized. Meanwhile, emergency responders in Orange County, California, have recently reported the successful neutralization of a similarly threatening chemical tank.
With no announced evacuation order and the fire department reporting a stable scene, the focus remains on locating the missing workers and managing the chemical hazard while ensuring the safety of nearby residents.
