At least one person was killed, and nine others are missing after a chemical tank imploded at a pulp and paper mill in Washington state on Tuesday morning, authorities said.
Emergency responders were still working on recovery efforts at Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. in Longview, but hours after the implosion, some liquid remained in the collapsed tank, complicating efforts to reach victims, the Longview Fire Department said Tuesday evening.
Cowlitz Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein later said at a news conference that it was unclear how many workers had been killed. When asked how many remained missing, he replied: “We have information on that, but we’re not releasing that information.”
Additionally, nine others were injured in the spill. Among those injured was a responding firefighter.
Authorities said some victims suffered burns or inhalation injuries, and that the severity of the injuries ranged from minor to critical. There was no immediate threat to the public, they said.
PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center said in a statement to NTD that the center “has evaluated nine patients connected to the incident—four have now been transferred, three have been discharged, one is in fair condition and one is deceased.”
The exterior of the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. is shown after a tank containing hazardous liquid imploded in Longview, Wash., on May 26, 2026. Claire Rush/AP Photo
Fire Department Responds to the Scene
Nippon Dynawave manufactures paper packaging in Longview, Washington, a town on the Oregon border roughly 50 miles north of Portland.
Fire crews and a Hazardous Materials Team remained on the scene late into the morning, conducting mitigation on the chemicals and the affected tank, but said there was no immediate threat to the public.
“This is a tragic incident for our community,” Gorsuch said. “Our thoughts remain with the victims, their families, the co-workers, and everyone who has been impacted by it.”
Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein said the scene was stable after crews confirmed the status of both hazardous materials and structural concerns, but he anticipated that crews would be working at the site for several more hours, potentially overnight.
The tank was reported to be roughly 80,000 gallons in volume, and roughly 60 percent full.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
