Death toll rises to 8 in chemical vat implosion at Washington paper mill; recovery work continues

LONGVIEW, Wash. (KPTV/Gray News) - Officials say recovery work is continuing after a chemical vat imploded at the Nippon Dynawave paper mill on Tuesday.

On Thursday, crews said six of the nine missing workers have been recovered and confirmed dead, with the other three remaining missing and presumed dead.

A total of eight people are currently confirmed dead as a result of the implosion.

The bodies of the six recovered workers were found near the employee breakroom area, according to firefighters, 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 Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. facility just after 7:15 a.m.

At a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson called it “the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history.”

Multiple people, including a firefighter, were injured and taken to area hospitals for treatment. Some of those injured were being treated at the Oregon Burn Center.

Officials said that those being recovered from the scene will be taken to the Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office for identification and family notification.

Recovery efforts were initially delayed due to safety concerns about the structural integrity of the damaged tank, which was said to be more than half full when it ruptured.

Officials said an inspection revealed the remaining product in the tank was about 25,000 gallons. The tank was also found to be in a stable position, allowing emergency responders to develop a plan to remove it along with the ongoing recovery efforts.