LONGVIEW, WA — A second employee has died after a chemical tank ruptured at a paper mill in southwest Washington, while nine others remain missing as crews continue recovery work. Officials said the incident happened Tuesday morning at Nippon Dynawave Packaging in Longview, and the response has now shifted from rescue to recovery.
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson said the state is bracing for what could become the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington history. Authorities said the rupture released white liquor, a chemical used in paper production, and caused significant damage at the facility. One firefighter was injured but later treated and released.
Recovery effort shifts after Tuesday morning rupture
Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein said Wednesday that the operation had moved from rescue to recovery. He said the focus remains on responder safety while crews work carefully through the site and treat every victim with dignity and respect.
Longview Fire Battalion Chief Matt Amos said the work to recover the nine missing employees will be slow, methodical and deliberate. He said safety concerns surrounding the unstable tank delayed some of the effort. Officials have said the tank contains white liquor, a chemical mixture used in the paper-making process.
Goldstein said employees were in their work areas during a shift change when the rupture occurred around 7:15 a.m. Tuesday. He also said investigators have not found video of the incident.
Tank held white liquor used in paper production
Authorities said the damaged tank is a 900,000-gallon vessel and that it was about 60% full when it ruptured. A joint statement from local officials and Nippon Dynawave Packaging said Wednesday that roughly 25,000 gallons remain in the tank, far less than initially believed.
That lower estimate, officials said, gives responders a better path forward for removing the remaining product. White liquor is made up of sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfide and disodium carbonate, and it plays a key role in the kraft pulp and paper process.
Goldstein said the rupture caused visible destruction, including damage to vehicles, buildings and mechanical equipment. He said officials are focused on the damage that was observed, not yet on what caused the failure.
Victims include a father remembered by family
Family members identified one of the dead workers as Gilbert Bernal. His daughter, Geovana Bernal, said he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who worked hard for his family and loved them deeply.
She said a brother confirmed the death after viewing images of her father and speaking with the coroner’s office. The Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office said it will release the names of the deceased after all individuals are recovered and families are notified.
Seven other employees suffered injuries, including chemical burns, and remained hospitalized Wednesday. The second confirmed death was a worker who had been taken to the hospital after the incident and later died, officials said.
State and federal investigators begin reviewing the rupture
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board said it is opening an investigation to determine how the rupture happened and how similar incidents might be prevented. A team of CSB investigators was expected to arrive in Longview on Wednesday.
The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries is also investigating. Brian Wood, director of support services for Nippon Dynawave Packaging, said the company will cooperate fully and wants a complete accounting of what happened.
Officials said there is no direct threat to the public. The facility is located near the Washington-Oregon border on the Columbia River and employs about 1,000 people, according to the Washington Department of Ecology.
Columbia River and ditch systems under close watch
Goldstein said contamination was confirmed to have entered the Columbia River, and agencies are now working to understand the extent of the environmental impact. The Washington State Department of Ecology and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are helping monitor air and water quality.
Officials said there are no negative health impacts to air quality or Longview’s drinking water system at this time. Residents were asked to stay away from ditches and dikes while testing continues.
Later Wednesday, officials said contaminated water had also been found in ditches near the plant. Crews are flushing that water through the Longview ditch system to keep it away from residential areas and the city’s water supply, while reducing it to a level that can be safely discharged into the river.
Officials warned that the longer contaminated water stays in the ditch system, the greater the chance it could reach the underlying aquifer. They said drinking water supplies are not currently believed to be affected.
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