Washington Paper Mill Explosion: 9 Missing, Presumed Dead
A catastrophic chemical tank rupture at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. paper mill in Longview, Washington, has left nine workers missing and presumed dead, with officials confirming there is no hope of finding survivors. The death toll has risen to two after a second injured worker died at a hospital, according to AP News.
The Incident
The disaster unfolded around 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26, shortly after a shift change at the facility. A 900,000-gallon tank containing “white liquor” — a highly corrosive alkaline solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide used in paper manufacturing — catastrophically imploded, releasing more than 500,000 gallons of the chemical across the site.
Eight people were injured in the blast, with injuries ranging from minor to critical, including chemical burns and inhalation injuries. A responding firefighter was also treated and released from a hospital.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson called it “the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history,” as reported by BBC News. He has deployed the National Guard to assist with recovery and cleanup operations.
The Victims
The first confirmed fatality was identified as Gilbert Bernal, 52, an instrument technician who had worked at the mill for over a decade. His daughter, Geo Bernal, paid tribute to her father, describing him as “the most selfless man I knew.” He was due to celebrate his 32nd wedding anniversary in just two weeks.
Todd Cornwell, a friend who attended Bible study with Bernal, told the Associated Press: “He was always there willing to help in whatever needed to be done.”
The nine missing workers are believed to have been in administrative areas, break rooms, and operational spaces near the tank at the time of the rupture. Their names have not yet been released pending family notification.
Recovery and Investigation
Recovery operations resumed Wednesday after being paused due to safety concerns over the damaged tank’s structural integrity. Crews wearing hazmat gear are conducting a slow, methodical search of the site, with decontamination procedures in place for any remains recovered.
“We do not know where all nine are,” said Scott Goldstein, Cowlitz County Fire Chief, according to The Guardian.
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has opened a federal investigation into the incident. CSB Chairperson Steve Owens stated that the goal is to “determine how it happened and what can be done to prevent something like this from happening again,” as noted in the CSB’s official news release.
Environmental Concerns
The chemical spill reached a drainage ditch and some contamination entered the Columbia River, one of North America’s largest waterways. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reported no observed effects on the river to date. Local drinking water and air quality remain unaffected, though residents have been advised to avoid ditches and dikes in the immediate area.
Facility History and Safety Record
The Nippon Dynawave facility, which employs approximately 1,000 people and dates back to 1953, has a history of safety and environmental violations. According to Newsweek, the company has been fined $3,400 for three separate health and safety violations since 2021, including a fall hazard violation and an incident involving an amputated finger. The facility also experienced a major industrial fire in July 2023 when wood chip piles burned for days.
Two open safety complaints were filed against the company in March and May 2026, though state officials say both are unrelated to the tank that imploded.
Broader Context
The incident occurred just days after thousands of Southern California residents were evacuated due to an overheated chemical tank at an aerospace plant in Garden Grove, raising broader questions about industrial tank safety across the West Coast.
If all 11 deaths are confirmed, this would rank among the deadliest U.S. industrial accidents in recent decades, alongside the 2013 West, Texas, fertilizer plant explosion (14 killed) and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion (11 killed).
What’s Next
The CSB investigation is expected to take months, examining the tank’s structural integrity, maintenance history, and operational factors. The cause of the implosion remains unknown. For the Longview community, where the paper mill has been a cornerstone employer for over 70 years, the tragedy has left families torn apart and a city searching for answers.
As Crystal Moldenhauer, a Longview resident with friends still unaccounted for, told reporters: “We’re all still waiting for answers. There’s families that have been torn apart, and we don’t know why.”