11 People Died in Chemical Tank Explosion in Washington State

11 people lost their lives due to the explosion of a chemical tank at a paper factory in Washington state, and the bodies of all missing workers were recovered.

Scraper SystemMay 31, 2026, 04:04 PM

11 People Died in Chemical Tank Explosion in Washington State

11 people died as a result of the explosion of a chemical tank at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging paper factory in Washington state. The explosion occurred when the tank containing a chemical solution called 'white liquor', which includes sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide, collapsed. Initially, two deaths were confirmed, but the bodies of nine missing workers were also found following the efforts of search and rescue teams. Investigations at the scene revealed that approximately 900,000 gallons (3.4 million liters) of white liquor had spilled into the environment and mixed into the Columbia River. Authorities stated that no adverse health effects were observed in air quality or the drinking water of the city of Longview. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.