Inside this Article

• Another injured person has died following the Nippon Dynawave Packaging tank implosion, according to AP.
• Nine workers remain missing and are presumed dead, bringing the presumed death toll to 11.
• The damaged tank remains unstable, complicating recovery work.
• The tank contained white liquor, a caustic pulp and paper process chemical made mostly of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide.

A second person injured in the chemical tank implosion at Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. in Longview, Washington, has died, bringing the presumed death toll to 11, according to AP.

The update includes nine workers who remain missing and are presumed dead. AP reported that officials said there was no hope of finding additional survivors as crews continued recovery efforts around the damaged tank.

The incident occurred around 7:15 a.m. local time May 26 at the company’s pulp and paper facility, according to Reuters. Reuters reported that the tank contained about 900,000 gallons of white liquor, a mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide used in papermaking. PCI previously reported that AP said responders had paused recovery work because the collapsed tank remained unstable and could leak more caustic liquid.

AP reported that air and drinking water in Longview had not been affected, though residents were warned to avoid nearby ditches and dikes.

The cause of the rupture remains under investigation.

Nippon Dynawave Packaging is a pulp and paper operation associated with Nippon Paper Industries. It is not a Nippon Paint facility.

Sources: AP, Reuters

PCI previously reported the initial incident, including the chemical connection for the coatings industry.