Full Breakdown
Deadly Chemical Vat Implosion at Longview Paper Mill Triggers Fatalities, Missing Workers, and River Contamination
5/28/2026, 9:03:05 AM
Incident Overview
On May 26, 2026, a 900,000-gallon vat of “white liquor” – a sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide solution used in pulp processing – ruptured at Nippon Dynawave Packaging, 3401 Industrial Way, Longview, Washington, releasing about 550,000-570,000 gallons of liquid and prompting a shift from rescue to recovery.
Facility Background
Nippon Dynawave Packaging, a wholly-owned unit of Japan’s Nippon Paper Industries, bought the Longview mill from Weyerhaeuser in 2016 for $225 million.
Timeline
May 26, 2026 ? 7:15 a.m.: the vat imploded, killing one worker on site and a second later. Eight injuries were confirmed and nine workers remained missing. On May 27 Governor Bob Ferguson announced a transition to recovery; water tests on May 27-28 confirmed Columbia River contamination and triggered a CSB investigation.
Casualties, Injuries, and Environmental Impact
Two deaths are confirmed; officials warn the toll could rise to 11 as nine missing workers remain. Eight people were injured, including a firefighter; some were treated at the Oregon Burn Center. About 550,000-570,000 gallons entered the environment, with roughly 90,000 gallons in the tank. Tests found a dozen dead carp but no immediate impact on air quality or drinking water.
Official Responses
Governor Bob Ferguson called the incident “the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history.” Battalion Chief Matt Amos said recovery would proceed slowly in an “extremely hazardous” environment. Fire Chief Scott Goldstein announced the shift to recovery, confirmed river contamination, and noted no negative health impacts for residents or water supplies. The CSB pledged an investigation of the cause and future safety.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources list the tank’s original capacity as both 80,000 gallons and 900,000 gallons. Estimates of remaining chemical vary between 25,000 gallons and 90,000 gallons. The death count remains uncertain, with two confirmed fatalities and projections of up to 11. Comprehensive long-term ecological studies of the Columbia River have not yet been released.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We're bracing ourselves for this being the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history,” — Bob Ferguson, Washington Governor
- “As of this morning, we declared this incident a transition from rescue to ?recovery,” — Scott Goldstein, Cowlitz 2 Fire Chief
- “Testing of water samples has confirmed contamination entered the Columbia River during the day yesterday. ” — Scott Goldstein, Cowlitz 2 Fire Chief
- “Longview Fire Department Battalion Chief Matt Amos said at the news conference the recovery effort would proceed slowly in the "extremely hazardous" environment.” — Matt Amos, Longview Fire Department Battalion Chief
What’s Next
The CSB will launch an investigation while state and local agencies continue water-quality monitoring and reinforce the tank’s structure. Removal of the remaining chemical is planned for the coming weeks, and identification of the missing workers will proceed as recovery operations resume.
