The implosion of a chemical tank at a pulp and paper mill in Washington state killed an undisclosed number of people, authorities and company officials confirmed.
LONGVIEW, Wash. — Multiple people have died and others are unaccounted for following a major chemical implosion at the Nippon Dynawave facility in Longview, Washington, fire officials confirmed, according to KGW.
A liquid supply tank of hazardous “chemical treatment product” ruptured around 7:18 a.m. PT, burning multiple people and exposing others to harmful chemicals. During a press conference, fire officials said the 80,000-gallon tank was roughly 60 percent full.
Around 11:20 a.m. PT, officials confirmed there had been multiple fatalities along with critical injuries related to the incident.
The identities of those killed and injured will not be released until family members have been notified, officials said.
They added that there is no threat to the surrounding community, and there are no evacuation orders at this time.
However, residents are asked to stay away from Industrial Way and avoid the surrounding area while emergency crews respond to the incident.
Fire department officials said crews and a Hazardous Materials Team are working with Nippon Dynawave employees to “mitigate the product and container involved.” Officials have not reported what type of chemical caused the implosion.
The Nippon Dynawave facility houses a kraft pulp and paper mill and multiple liquid packaging plants, and employs approximately 1,000 people.
This is a developing story and will be updated with more details as they emerge.