Washington State Tank Implosion Kills One and Leaves Nine Missing
Crews are searching for missing workers as investigators examine the cause of the tank rupture and a spill of corrosive white liquor.
- On Tuesday, a massive white liquor tank ruptured at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company in Longview during an early morning shift change, leaving two people dead and nine others missing.
- The accident involved a 3.4 million-litre tank containing corrosive white liquor, a highly alkaline chemical mixture used to dissolve wood into pulp during papermaking.
- Family members identified Gilbert Bernal, an electrician at the facility for 15 years, as the first confirmed victim. His daughter, Geovana Bernal-Ferguson, said he was "the most selfless man I knew" preparing to celebrate his 32nd wedding anniversary.
- Contaminated material entered the Columbia River, prompting the Washington Department of Ecology and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to monitor water quality and dilute chemicals through the ditch system before discharge.
- Washington Governor Bob Ferguson warned the disaster will likely become the "deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history," as residents throughout Longview and Cowlitz County gathered in prayer and mourning.
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454 Articles
Bellevue Reporter
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Longview explosion ‘deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history’ as death toll climbs, Gov. Ferguson says
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson said Wednesday state officials expect a deadly chemical blast that has killed or injured at least 19 people in Longview may become one of its deadliest in state history.
9 missing after Washington paper mill tank rupture and officials say there's no hope of survivors
LONGVIEW, Wash. (AP) — A second person who was injured when a large chemical tank ruptured at a Washington state paper mill has died, authorities said Wednesday, bringing the presumed death toll to 11, including nine people who were still missing. Authorities said there was no hope of finding more survivors, but crews were set [...]
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