Coroner Says 10 Washington Mill Workers Died of Chemical Burns After 600,000-Gallon Tank Failure
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 11
Coroner Says 10 Washington Mill Workers Died of Chemical Burns After 600,000-Gallon Tank Failure
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 11
Summary
Ten of the 11 workers killed in last month’s Nippon Dynawave Packaging disaster in Longview, Washington, died from alkaline chemical burns, the Cowlitz County coroner said Thursday.
A holding tank carrying 600,000 gallons of “white liquor” failed and sent caustic liquid through the plant and nearby drainage, with the blast flipping trucks and punching holes in factory walls.
The 11th victim died after being airlifted to an Oregon hospital, but that cause of death has not been released; one of the 10 examined also suffered asphyxia from aspirating a foreign object.
Nearly 3,000 dead fish have been found in nearby dikes and ditches, though officials said the area water supply was not threatened after the drainage system was shut down and contaminated water flushed into the Columbia River.
Regulators say determining the exact cause could take months, and recovery crews have decontaminated only 23% of the affected area at what officials call Washington’s deadliest modern industrial accident.
A town's worst industrial disaster: Was it a tragic accident or a preventable corporate failure?
Why can a tank with 600,000 gallons of deadly chemicals evade mandatory government inspection?
Catastrophic Chemical Tank Implosion at Nippon Dynawave: 900,000 Gallons Released, Multiple Fatalities in Longview, WA
Overview
On May 26, 2026, a catastrophic implosion struck the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. paper mill in Longview, Washington, when a massive tank holding 900,000 gallons of white liquor ruptured. This disaster released hazardous chemicals into the nearby Columbia River, raising serious environmental concerns. Although initial tests found no negative health impacts on air or drinking water, the scale of the incident triggered a rapid emergency response. Washington’s governor deployed the National Guard to support search and recovery efforts, highlighting the potential human cost and the urgent need to address the aftermath of this rare industrial tragedy.