LONGVIEW, Wash. (KPTV) – Officials said during a Thursday news conference that six of the nine missing workers have been recovered and confirmed dead after the deadly chemical vat implosion at the Nippon Dynawave paper mill in Longview.
The three other workers are still missing and presumed dead.
A total of eight people are now confirmed dead as a result of the incident: six recovered victims, one person who died at the scene and another person died after being taken to a hospital.
The bodies of the six recovered workers were found near the employee breakroom area, according to the Longview Fire Department, because the implosion occurred during a shift change.
Officials say a 900,000 gallon tank containing a highly destructive chemical called white liquor imploded at the facility, located at 3401 Industrial Way, just after 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26.
At a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson called it “the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history.”
Eight others, including a firefighter, were injured and taken to area hospitals for treatment. Some of those injured are being treated at the Oregon Burn Center.
Officials said as people are recovered they will undergo decontamination before being transported to the Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office for identification and family notification.
Recovery efforts were initially delayed due to safety concerns of the structural integrity of the damaged tank. An estimated 90,000 gallons of chemical product was believed to still be in the tank.
Officials said an inspection revealed the remaining product is at about 25,000 and the tank was in a stable position, allowing emergency responders to develop a plan to move forward to remove it.
Soldiers and airmen from the Washington National Guard’s 10th Homeland Response Force joined recovery efforts to provide decontamination support to search and recovery teams.
Investigators are still looking into what caused the tank to implode in the first place and if there’s risk of it happening again.
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) said it will begin an investigation into the implosion.
On Wednesday, officials said some of the chemical had made its way into the Columbia River. The Washington State Department of Ecology and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are monitoring air and water quality and working to assess any other environmental impacts.
The Washington Department of Ecology said on Wednesday evening that county crews are flushing the water contaminated by the white liquor leak.
The department says crews are using water from the Cowlitz River and fire hydrants to flush the water.
The goal is to move the contaminated water away from residential areas and the city’s water supply, and dilute it to a level that can be safely discharged into the Columbia River.
Officials repeatedly emphasized there was no danger to the surrounding community but urged people to be vigilant and report any strange smells or liquids especially in culverts or other low-lying areas.
People should continue to avoid the area and stay away from streets between Washington Way stretching to Prudential Blvd.
At this time, officials said there are no negative health impacts to air quality or the City of Longview’s drinking water system.
People are being asked to stay clear of ditches and dikes in the city while water testing is underway.
Fundraisers have been set up for the families of victims who died in the implosion:
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