One killed and nine missing after chemical explosion at US paper mill

May 27, 2026

A fatal explosion at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging paper mill in Longview, Washington resulted in at least one death and left nine people missing, while injuring nine others including employees and a firefighter. The blast occurred when a massive tank containing white liquor, a highly corrosive chemical used in papermaking, ruptured early Tuesday morning. Initially estimated to hold 80,000 gallons, officials later discovered the tank actually contained approximately 900,000 gallons of the hazardous substance.

Who is affected

At least one person killed (identity not released)
Nine people still missing
Eight injured employees of Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility
One injured firefighter
Families of workers and deceased individuals
1,000 total employees who work at the plant
Emergency responders and personnel at the scene
Local officials in Longview, Washington

What action is being taken

Emergency responders are conducting recovery operations at the site
Firefighting efforts are continuing
Responders are working to structurally reinforce and stabilize the unstable tank
Washington State ecology workers are assisting local officials at the site
Authorities are working to notify family members before releasing identifying information

Why it matters

This incident is significant due to the loss of life, missing persons, and multiple critical injuries sustained in an industrial accident involving highly corrosive chemicals. The massive scale of the chemical spill—with a tank containing approximately 900,000 gallons of white liquor instead of the initially estimated 80,000 gallons—creates substantial safety hazards for emergency personnel and complicates rescue and recovery efforts. The instability of the damaged tank poses ongoing risks that must be addressed before operations can safely continue, highlighting the dangers of industrial chemical handling and the vulnerability of workers in manufacturing facilities.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC