Longview Mill Implosion Kills 8 as Crews Recover 6 Near 900,000-Gallon Tank
Updated
Updated · Fox 12 Oregon · May 27
Longview Mill Implosion Kills 8 as Crews Recover 6 Near 900,000-Gallon Tank
5 articles · Updated · Fox 12 Oregon · May 27
Six of nine missing workers were recovered and confirmed dead Thursday after the Nippon Dynawave paper mill implosion in Longview, bringing the death toll to eight; the remaining three are presumed dead.
A 900,000-gallon tank holding white liquor imploded just after 7:15 a.m. Tuesday during a shift change, and officials said many victims were found near the employee breakroom.
Recovery had been slowed by fears the damaged tank could fail again, but responders moved forward after officials said the remaining chemical load had fallen to about 25,000 gallons and the structure was stable.
Eight other people, including a firefighter, were injured, while Washington National Guard teams joined decontamination work and the U.S. Chemical Safety Board opened an investigation into the cause.
Some chemical reached the Columbia River, prompting state and federal air-and-water monitoring, though officials said Longview's drinking water and surrounding community currently face no known health threat.
With a history of safety violations, was Washington's deadliest industrial tragedy an accident or an inevitability?
As toxic chemicals contaminate the Columbia River, can the long-term ecological damage from the plant implosion ever be reversed?
The 2026 Nippon Dynawave Disaster: Washington’s Deadliest Workplace Accident in a Century and Its Environmental Fallout
Overview
On May 26, 2026, a catastrophic accident at Nippon Dynawave became Washington’s deadliest workplace disaster in nearly a century, resulting in multiple fatalities, including instrument technician Gilbert Bernal. Friends and families began confirming victims’ identities and organizing support. The incident caused significant environmental damage, with spilled chemicals contaminating the Columbia River and nearby waterways. In response, officials flushed the affected water through Longview’s ditch system to protect the city’s water supply. This tragedy not only devastated the community but also highlighted ongoing concerns about industrial safety and environmental compliance at the facility.