In brief
A 500,000‑gallon chemical tank burst at a Washington paper plant, releasing highly corrosive white liquor that burned crew members and damaged the surrounding area. The collapse killed 11 workers, including two brothers, a trivia champion, and a farmer‑electrician, and injured eight others. Environmental monitors report no significant contamination of the Columbia River or groundwater, though the spill has touched the river. Investigators continue to recover bodies and safe‑cross the site. The Nippon Paper Group expressed its condolences, and families have begun fundraising in honor of the victims.
On May 24, 2026, a 500,000‑gallon (1.9 million‑liter) tank of white liquor—an alkaline, caustic mixture used in paper manufacturing—collapsed at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. plant in Longview, Washington. The sudden implosion released a torrent of the corrosive liquid, which forced pickup trucks off their trailers, damaged buildings and caused severe burn and inhalation injuries to those on site.By Friday investigators had recovered the remains of eleven workers, including two brothers who were working side‑by‑side, a local trivia champ, and an electrician who aided farmers in the area. Two additional crew members remain missing, and search teams continue to clear the site under careful decontamination protocols.The search has been slow and methodical, because the area is still highly hazardous, says Matt Amos, chief of the Longview fire battalion. crews are working closely with engineers to identify which buildings around the tank are safe to enter.The explosion failed to contaminate the drinking water or air in Longview—home to about 40,000 residents—according to local authorities, though the EPA has confirmed that a small amount of white liquor has flowed into the nearby Columbia River. No measurable impact on the river’s ecosystem has been detected so far.Families and friends of the victims have begun to name those who perished. Among them are Tyler and Brad Covington, the twin brothers who worked together; Gilbert Bernal, a grandfather‑long electrician; John Forsberg, a trivia host; and Jared Ammons, who had a child on the way. The community has rallied through memorials and fundraising campaigns, including a renamed trivia trophy in honor of Forsberg.The Nippon Paper Group, which has a Japanese ownership stake in the plant, issued a statement offering “heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families.” Police and health officials note that eight people were injured, ranging from deep burns to inhalation incidents, and a firefighter sustained injuries in the initial blast.So far, the cause of the tank failure remains under investigation. While the cleanup continues, local residents stay vigilant. The plant’s long history ties it deeply to Longview’s lumber‑and‑paper economy, and its closure means hundreds of jobs will be affected. Reporters have visited in Seattle, Portland, and even Toledo, Ohio, to capture the ongoing impact.---(Source: Associated Press, 2026)
