Bodies Recovered Following Chemical Tank Explosion in Washington State
Authorities confirmed on Thursday that six of the nine individuals missing from a chemical tank explosion in Washington state have been recovered. Emergency teams are actively working to dilute contaminated water at the site.
The explosion, which occurred at a Longview paper mill, has raised the death toll to eleven, with three bodies yet to be found as of Thursday afternoon. Longview Fire Chief Brad Hanning emphasized the priority of safety for responders while treating all victims with the utmost respect and care.
Authorities indicated that any recovered bodies will undergo decontamination procedures before being sent to the Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office for identification. This process aims to ensure a dignified handling of the victims’ remains amid the ongoing recovery efforts.
The tank involved in the explosion at the Japan Dynawave plant was designed to contain 900,000 gallons of a hazardous chemical known as white liquor, integral to the paper pulping process. Officials reported that roughly 60% of seats in the facility were occupied during the incident.
Longview Fire Battalion Chief Matt Amos disclosed that the explosion took place around 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday, coinciding with crew shift changes. The six recently recovered bodies were found in the crew area, where employees typically gather to discuss their daily assignments.
According to officials, the tank held several dangerous substances, including sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfide, and disodium carbonate. Efforts are currently in place to dilute the high pH water that has contaminated a ditch near the site, which accumulated substantial amounts of chemicals from the spill.
Brooks Stanfield, the federal field coordinator for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), noted that a significant volume of materials and firefighter runoff was released into this ditch located across the street from the plant. He highlighted the concern that this ditch sits atop an aquifer which serves as a source of drinking water for Longview residents. However, Chris Collins, the city’s public works director, reassured the public that Longview’s drinking water remains safe and that authorities have successfully diverted contaminated water away from critical wellhead areas.
On Wednesday, officials initiated a plan to redirect fresh water from the Cowlitz River to dilute contaminated water and propel it further west, away from the wellhead area. This fresh water will subsequently be discharged into the Columbia River once monitoring confirms that pH levels have returned to safe thresholds, with the latest readings showing levels below the pH threshold of 9. Stanfield remarked that the ditch is part of a levee system running through Longview, a city with a population of approximately 37,000. Monitoring continues as officials urge residents to avoid areas where water pH levels are still rising.
Governor Bob Ferguson has characterized this incident as one of the worst workplace disasters in Washington state’s modern history.
