The damaged tank held white liquor, a caustic material used in paper production.
LONGVIEW, Wash. — Recovery crews worked Wednesday to secure an unstable chemical tank at a Longview paper mill after an implosion killed at least two people and left nine workers unrecovered at Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co.
The response has shifted from rescue to recovery, officials said, because conditions near the tank remain dangerous and authorities do not expect more survivors. The tank contained white liquor, a caustic chemical mixture used to make pulp, and crews had to reduce the risk of another leak or collapse before moving forward.
The tank failed Tuesday morning at the southwest Washington mill, sending emergency teams from Longview and surrounding agencies to the industrial site. Several injured people, including a firefighter, were treated after the rupture. Some injuries involved burns or inhalation concerns. Officials first gave limited casualty information while they worked to account for employees and reach families. By Wednesday, authorities said at least two people were dead and nine workers remained unrecovered.
Investigators had not said what caused the tank to fail. Officials described the structure as unstable and said crews would work carefully because of the chemical still present inside. The damaged tank and spilled material created a difficult scene for firefighters, hazardous materials teams and company personnel. Authorities said there was no direct threat to the public, but the plant area remained restricted while environmental and safety teams assessed the damage.
The Longview mill is part of a region where paper, timber and river shipping have shaped the local economy for decades. Nippon Dynawave Packaging operates at a large industrial site near the Columbia River and makes pulp and packaging products. For many residents, the plant is more than a workplace. It is tied to families, unions, contractors and local businesses that depend on mill jobs.
State agencies are expected to review workplace safety, environmental impacts and the events leading up to the tank failure. Local authorities said victim identifications would come after family notifications. Company officials said they were cooperating with responders. The recovery process depends on whether crews can make the tank safe enough to enter the most damaged areas and remove those still unrecovered.
In Longview, the disaster brought a public outpouring of grief. Mayor Erik Halvorson said the community was in mourning, and residents described long hours of calls and messages as workers’ families searched for information. The mill’s presence in the city made the loss feel widespread, with friends, relatives and neighbors connected to the plant.
Officials said the site remained active Wednesday, with recovery crews, environmental responders and investigators working under hazardous conditions. A final account of the dead, injured and unrecovered workers had not been completed.
Author note: Last updated May 27, 2026.