Washington paper mill disaster: death toll rises to eight as recovery of victims continues
Recovery crews have retrieved six more bodies from the Nippon Dynawave Packaging plant in Longview, Washington, bringing the confirmed death toll to eight, with three workers still missing and presumed dead after a massive tank of corrosive white liquor ruptured on Tuesday.
The disaster
A catastrophic tank failure at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. facility in Longview, Washington, on Tuesday released more than 500,000 gallons (1.9 million liters) of white liquor — a highly corrosive chemical mix of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide used to break down wood into pulp for paper products. The tank, which had a total capacity of over 3.4 million liters (900,000 gallons), partially collapsed, damaging vehicles, buildings, and equipment. The incident occurred during a morning shift change.
We declared this morning that this operation was moving from the rescue phase to the recovery phase.
Victims and recovery efforts
By Thursday, six of the nine workers who had been listed as missing were recovered deceased, raising the confirmed death toll to eight. Three remain unaccounted for, and authorities have said there is no hope of finding survivors. The first confirmed victim was Gilbert Bernal, a grandfather and electrician at the plant. CJ Doran, 26, a husband described as the spiritual leader of his family, is also among those presumed dead. Eight people were injured, including a firefighter, with some suffering burns or inhalation injuries. Recovery operations have been slow and deliberate due to the tank's initial instability and the hazardous chemical environment.
He was one of the most genuinely good people that you've ever met. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.
Environmental and public safety
Fire officials confirmed that a portion of the white liquor reached the Columbia River, which borders the plant and separates Washington from Oregon. Water samples showed elevated concentrations in the river. However, authorities stated that the spill has not contaminated the air or drinking water in and around Longview, a city of about 40,000 people. An estimated 25,000 gallons (95,000 liters) of liquid remained in the tank, which has since been stabilized.
Community impact
Longview, founded as a company town by timber baron R.A. Long, has deep multigenerational ties to the paper and lumber industries. Nearly one in five jobs in Cowlitz County is tied to manufacturing. The mill employs approximately 550 people, and many workers have spent decades side by side. Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, whose district includes the plant, called the disaster systemic, citing stretched resources and cost-cutting pressures. Senator Patty Murray visited the site and pledged to push for answers on how the incident occurred.
Everything is stretched so thin, of course it's going to break. This is systemic.
Official response
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said the state is preparing for what may be the deadliest industrial tragedy in its modern history. Nippon Paper Group, the Japanese parent company, offered its deepest condolences to the bereaved families. The cause of the disaster remains under investigation, and authorities have not yet released the names of all victims pending family notifications. Recovered individuals must be decontaminated before being turned over to the medical examiner.
We are preparing for this to be the deadliest industrial catastrophe in the modern history of Washington state.
- Tank containing white liquor ruptures at Nippon Dynawave Packaging during morning shift change; two confirmed dead, nine missing, eight injured.
- Fire officials announce transition from rescue to recovery phase; no survivors expected. Governor Ferguson calls it potentially the deadliest industrial tragedy in Washington's modern history.
- Six more bodies recovered, bringing confirmed death toll to eight. Three workers remain missing. Tank stabilized with 25,000 gallons of residual liquid.
