Washington Paper Mill Blast Death Toll Rises to 9 After 500,000-Gallon Tank Collapse
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 30
Washington Paper Mill Blast Death Toll Rises to 9 After 500,000-Gallon Tank Collapse
10 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 30
Nine people are now confirmed dead and two workers remain unaccounted for after crews recovered another victim Friday at Nippon Dynawave Packaging in Longview, Washington.
A tank holding more than 500,000 gallons of caustic “white liquor” collapsed Tuesday, unleashing chemicals strong enough to overturn pickup trucks and damage buildings; eight people were injured, including a firefighter.
Recovery has moved slowly because crews must avoid the zone nearest the tank, verify which damaged structures are safe to enter, and decontaminate both remains and searchers.
Friends and relatives have begun identifying victims, including brothers Tyler and Brad Covington, electrician Gilbert Bernal and trivia regular John Forsberg, as online fundraisers spread through the community.
The cause remains under investigation, and the disaster is already among the deadliest U.S. workplace accidents in recent decades.
With a history of safety fines, was the Washington chemical disaster a tragic accident or an inevitable outcome?
Thousands of aging chemical tanks operate daily. What warning signs of this catastrophic failure were missed?
The 2026 Longview White Liquor Spill: Fatal Tank Implosion at Nippon Dynawave Mill and Its Community Impact
Overview
On May 26, 2026, a catastrophic tank failure at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company mill in Longview, Washington, released hundreds of thousands of gallons of highly corrosive 'white liquor.' The spill contaminated nearby drainage ditches and sent polluted wastewater into the Columbia River, raising serious environmental and health concerns for the region. The tragedy claimed at least one life, with the victim's family expressing deep grief. As the community faces ongoing recovery efforts, officials are working to contain the contamination and ensure the safety of Longview’s water and air, while investigations into the cause continue.