Washington state chemical tank implosion kills 11

Eleven people have died following a chemical accident at a paper mill in Washington state, authorities confirmed Saturday. The incident occurred Tuesday at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in Longview when a tank containing a solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide, used in paper pulp manufacturing, imploded.

Initially, two deaths were confirmed. However, the subsequent recovery of nine missing individuals brought the total confirmed fatalities to 11. Search operations continued throughout the week as emergency crews worked to clear debris and survey the site using drones, according to Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue deputy chief Kurt Stitch.

The damaged tank held approximately 3.4 million liters of the hazardous white liquid. Officials confirmed that contaminated substances entered the Columbia River. Despite this, local authorities stated that no adverse health effects on air quality or the city's drinking water had been detected in Longview.

"Several individuals suffered chemical burns and other injuries and were transported by ambulance to PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview and PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver. The severity of the injuries is not fully known at this time," the Longview Fire Department said in a Facebook post. The extent of the injuries sustained by those transported for medical care remains unclear.

Nippon Paper Industries, Japan's second-largest paper producer, acquired the Longview plant in 2016. The accident occurs amid a separate chemical tank crisis in Orange County, California, which forced thousands of residents to evacuate.

“

Several individuals suffered chemical burns and other injuries and were transported by ambulance to PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview and PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver. The severity of the injuries is not fully known at this time.