Death Toll Rises to 2 in Longview Chemical Tank Blast; Nine Still Missing

The death toll from the catastrophic chemical tank rupture at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging plant in Longview, Washington, has risen to at least two, with nine workers still unaccounted for, authorities confirmed Wednesday. The Longview Fire Department reported that a second victim, who had been transported from the scene for medical treatment, succumbed to their injuries.

The first fatality was confirmed on Tuesday, May 26. Governor Jay Inslee expressed grave concern, stating, "We're bracing ourselves for this being the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history." Seven other employees remain hospitalized, while an injured firefighter has been released.

The tank, which held over half a million gallons of a corrosive substance known as white liquor used in paper manufacturing, erupted on the morning of May 26. White liquor can cause severe burns upon skin contact.

First responders have transitioned from rescue to recovery operations, with Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein stating that the locations of all nine missing individuals within the mill are unknown. Family members identified one of the deceased as Gilbert Bernal, a beloved father, grandfather, and church member.

The chemical spill has also impacted the environment, with some white liquor flowing into the Columbia River and local diking systems. Nippon Dynawave reported spikes of high pH material in the river, prompting notification to the state Department of Ecology.

About a dozen dead carp have been recovered from the dikes. Officials assure there are no threats to air quality or local drinking water, but urge the public to avoid ditches and dikes until testing is complete.

The company is cooperating with investigators. The response was briefly paused due to concerns about the tank's stability, but further assessments revealed it was less risky than initially thought.

The tank's capacity was 900,000 gallons, with approximately 600,000 gallons at the time of the blast, and about 25,000 gallons remain, leaking slowly. The National Guard has deployed 46 members to assist, including a Civil Support Team for air quality monitoring and a Fatality Search and Rescue team.

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board has opened an investigation into the incident to determine its cause and prevent future occurrences.