Chemical Plant Explosion Leaves Workers Dead and Several Critically Injured

A terrifying chemical plant explosion in Washington state left multiple people dead and injured Tuesday morning after a vat containing a dangerous treatment product imploded at a Longview facility.

The blast happened around 7:18 a.m. at the Nippon Dynawave facility, according to the Longview Fire Department.

Fire officials said crews rushed to the scene for a hazardous materials incident after an implosion involving a vat of white liquor, a chemical treatment product used in the pulp and paper-making process.

The situation quickly became a major emergency.

Multiple people suffered critical chemical burns and other injuries, according to fire officials. Ambulances transported victims to PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview and PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver.

By late Tuesday morning, Longview fire officials confirmed there had been fatalities.

Officials said 10 people were injured, including one firefighter. Their injuries ranged from critical to minor. The firefighter was treated and released.

PeaceHealth later said it had received nine patients from the incident. One of those patients died, two were transferred, and six were listed in fair condition. The hospital said it did not expect any additional patients.

Fire officials also said some people were still unaccounted for, though it was not immediately clear how many.

The explosion happened at Nippon Dynawave, which the Washington State Department of Ecology describes as a Kraft pulp and paper mill and liquid packaging plant.

The chemical involved, white liquor, is not alcohol. It is a powerful alkaline liquid made mostly of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide. It is used to break down wood chips into pulp for papermaking.

It is also extremely dangerous and highly corrosive.

Despite the seriousness of the incident, officials said there was no immediate threat to the public. Still, residents were warned to stay away from Industrial Way and the surrounding area while emergency crews worked at the scene.

Cowlitz County firefighters, deputies, hazmat crews, and Longview fire officials remained on site as the response continued.

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson said state agencies were monitoring the explosion and response efforts.

“I just met with leaders at key state agencies tracking the latest on the Longview explosion,” Ferguson said. “Ecology and L&I have teams on the scene. Washington State Emergency Management is in constant communication with local responders. I directed our National Guard teams on alert. We’ll be sharing updates as the situation develops. My prayers are with the families of those lost in this tragedy.”

The deadly incident has left Longview shaken as investigators and emergency teams work to determine exactly what went wrong inside the plant.