A tank implosion at a paper mill in Washington likely killed 11 people, although only 2 bodies have so far been recovered, and injured 11 others. It is likely the largest industrial tragedy in the state’s history. A team of investigators with the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) arrived yesterday to investigate.
“The incident began when an industrial tank ruptured and
released white liquor, a highly destructive chemical mixture used in the paper
industry. In the initial aftermath, officials confirmed one death and nine
injuries, including a firefighter who had responded to the scene. Seven workers
remain hospitalized.”
The white liquor is made up
mostly of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide. It is used to break down wood
into kraft paper.
Any recovered victims have to
undergo decontamination, which makes the process slow. Responders are encased
in chemical protective equipment.
This was a huge tank with a
900,000-gallon capacity. About 25,000 gallons remain in the tank. It is
estimated that 500,000 gallons of caustic liquid leaked. It causes severe burns
when it comes into contact with human skin.
The plant has been in
production since 1953. It produces enough paperboard to make roughly 6 billion
milk cartons. Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. employs about 1000 people at the
packaging plant.
Much of the liquid spilled
into a nearby drainage ditch.
“Sampling revealed that contamination had entered the
river on Tuesday, officials said, and dead carp were found. They urged the
public to avoid ditches and dikes while the area undergoes water testing, but
said there were no issues related to air quality or drinking water in Longview.”
Meanwhile, a fire in a
damaged tank at a California aerospace plant, thought to be in danger of
exploding, luckily did not explode. The 7,000-gallon tank of the toxic and
flammable chemical methyl methacrylate at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove was
first detected last week and resulted in the evacuation of tens of thousands of
local residents. Up to 60,000 people were evacuated but have now returned to
their homes.
“A problem with a valve in the refrigeration system,
which was supposed to keep the tank at 50 degrees Fahrenheit, had caused
overheating.”
It was thought that an
explosion was imminent. According to NBC News:
“Sprinklers from the company were on and trying to cool
the tank, he said, and the fire department used a hose stream pouring 1,250
gallons a minute on it.”
“Those cooling measures were successful; it reduced the
pressure,” Covey said.
“A gauge showed the tank had reached at least 100
degrees over the weekend, Covey said. On Tuesday, the temperature at the main
tank was holding at 92 degrees, the fire agency said.
“A crack on the tank also helped relieve pressure and
allowed crews to take more aggressive measures. Had the worst fear — a boiling
liquid expanding vapor explosion, or BLEVE — occurred, it would have been a
catastrophe, officials have said.”
These incidents show that
tank integrity determination and frequent comprehensive tank inspections are
very important, especially in places where there are many people working near
the tank, as in the paper mill.
References:
Tank-rupture
tragedy may be deadliest in Washington history, governor says. Dani Anguiano
and agencies. The Guardian. May 27, 2026. Tank-rupture
tragedy may be deadliest in Washington history, governor says
All
evacuation orders lifted after explosion at California chemical tank is averted.
NBC News. May 26, 2026. All
evacuation orders lifted after explosion at California chemical tank is averted
How a
tank rupture disrupted life in a tight-knit Washington town that has lived with
pulp mills for generations. CNN. May 28, 2026. How
a tank rupture disrupted life in a tight-knit Washington town that has lived
with pulp mills for generations - KTVZ
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