Tank Implosion Moves to Recovery as River Contamination Is Confirmed
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- The search for nine missing workers has moved from rescue to recovery, Reuters reported.
- Officials said two fatalities had been confirmed, bringing the likely death toll to 11.
- Testing confirmed contamination entered the Columbia River, though officials said no negative effects had been identified for surrounding air quality or Longview’s drinking water system.
- Reuters reported that roughly 550,000 to 570,000 gallons left the tank, while some material remains and continues to slowly leak.
The search for nine people missing after a chemical tank implosion at Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. in Longview, Washington, has moved from rescue to recovery, likely bringing the total death toll to 11, according to Reuters. Officials had previously confirmed two fatalities and at least eight injuries.
The incident occurred May 26 at the company’s pulp and paper facility. Reuters reported that authorities do not yet know what caused the 900,000-gallon vat to implode. The tank contained “white liquor,” a chemical solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide used in making paper pulp that can cause severe burns on skin.
Longview Fire Department Battalion Chief Matt Amos said the recovery effort would proceed slowly in an “extremely hazardous” environment, Reuters reported. Cowlitz 2 Fire Chief Scott Goldstein said crews had searched the area that was searchable and had declared the incident a transition from rescue to recovery.
Authorities said testing confirmed that contamination entered the Columbia River. Goldstein said there were no identified negative health impacts to surrounding air quality or the city of Longview’s drinking water system at the time of the update. Reuters reported that officials advised people to stay away from parts of the area and said about a dozen carp had died.
Goldstein said roughly 550,000 to 570,000 gallons left the tank, while some material remained inside and continued to slowly leak, according to Reuters.
Reuters reported that Nippon Paper Industries acquired the Longview plant from Weyerhaeuser in 2016 and established wholly owned subsidiary Nippon Dynawave Packaging. The facility is not a Nippon Paint facility.
Source: Reuters
This follows two previously reported stories:
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