A chemical tank rupture at a paper packaging plant in Washington state has resulted in one confirmed death, with nine people injured and another nine unaccounted for.
The Explosion
The incident took place at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. facility in Longview, Washington, early Wednesday, reported CNN. The rupture involved a large vat of white liquor, a corrosive chemical mixture containing sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide, used in the paper production process.
Initial reports from the Longview Fire Department suggested the tank had imploded. Reports also suggested the tank could hold 80,000 gallons and was about 60% full. However, it was later revealed that the tank’s capacity was over 900,000 gallons, with an estimated 90,000 gallons still inside the damaged tank.
Rescue Efforts
Despite the severity of the incident, officials have stated that there is no threat to the surrounding community, although they have advised people to avoid the area.
The recovery and stabilization efforts have been described as “extremely complex” by Scott Goldstein, fire chief of Cowlitz 2 Fire Rescue, due to ongoing safety hazards. Among the injured are eight employees and one firefighter, who has since been released, Goldstein told CNN.
Officials said the tank remains unstable and dangerous for emergency crews, who are working to reinforce and stabilize the site before recovery efforts can continue safely.
Industrial Accidents Raise Concerns
This accident is the latest in a string of incidents at industrial facilities, mills, and plants in recent months, several of which have also claimed lives.
Just three days prior, in a similar event in Southern California, over 40,000 residents were evacuated following a vapor release and subsequent equipment failure at an aerospace manufacturing facility in Garden Grove. The tank involved in that incident contained methyl methacrylate, a toxic and highly flammable industrial chemical used in plastics production.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock
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