{"id":669176,"date":"2026-05-28T01:42:25","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T01:42:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/669176\/"},"modified":"2026-05-28T01:42:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T01:42:25","slug":"longview-paper-mill-disaster-could-be-deadliest-industrial-tragedy-in-modern-washington-state-history-governor-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/669176\/","title":{"rendered":"Longview paper mill disaster could be \u2018deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history,\u2019 governor says"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Hazardous<\/p>\n

Hazardous materials workers walk on the scene at Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co., where a chemical disaster occurred May 26 leaving at least one dead and nine missing, at the Longview, Wash., plant for kraft pulp, paper mill and liquid packaging on May 27, 2026.<\/p>\n

Eli Imadali \/ OPB<\/p>\n

The confirmed death toll from a chemical tank rupture in Longview has now climbed to two, officials said Wednesday, with another nine people presumed dead.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re bracing ourselves for this being the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history,\u201d Gov. Bob Ferguson said at a news conference Wednesday. \u201cI want to extend my deepest condolences to those who have been directly impacted by the loss of a loved one during this extraordinarily challenging time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Early Tuesday morning, a 900,000-gallon chemical tank failed at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. The tank rupture released tens of thousands of gallons of the caustic chemical known as white liquor, which is used to break wood chips into pulp to make paper. <\/p>\n

Nine people who were injured as a result of the tank rupture were initially taken to Longview\u2019s PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center. <\/p>\n

PeaceHealth spokesman Jim Murez said four of those patients were transferred to other hospitals in the region, including the Legacy Oregon Burn Center, for a higher level of care. One worker was declared dead Tuesday after being taken to the Longview hospital. A second person was confirmed dead Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Four patients stayed in Longview and were treated at the medical center. They have now all been discharged. <\/p>\n

Nine others remain missing and are presumed dead.<\/p>\n

\"Brian<\/p>\n

Brian Wood, support services director for Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. speaks at a press conference at the plant in Longview, Wash., May 27, 2026. A chemical disaster occurred May 26, leaving two confirmed dead and nine missing and presumed dead.<\/p>\n

Eli Imadali \/ OPB<\/p>\n

Emergency responders paused their work Tuesday evening, citing concerns about the structural stability of the collapsed tank and the ongoing threat that rescue workers could be exposed to harmful chemicals. And while those concerns remain, officials said Wednesday the scene was safe enough for them to begin the process of trying to recover the additional victims from the site.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs individuals are recovered from the site they\u2019ll undergo decontamination before being transported to the Cowlitz County Coroner\u2019s office for identification and family notification,\u201d Longview Fire Battalion Chief Matt Amos said Wednesday. He said the process would be slow as responders treated \u201cevery victim with the greatest dignity, care and respect as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked to explain how people went missing, Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue Fire Chief Scott Goldstein said the accident took place just 15 minutes after a 7:00 am shift change at the plant, so there were people in the area. The disaster area included an administrative area, a break room and \u201coperational spaces.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThey were in their workspaces when this blast occurred,\u201d Goldstein said. <\/p>\n

Fire officials estimate the damaged tank still holds as much as 25,000 gallons of white liquor \u2014 less than they originally estimated \u2014 as it continues to slowly leak out.<\/p>\n

Nippon Dynawave is a major employer in the Longview-Kelso area, a heavily industrial city of about 115,000 along the Columbia River. <\/p>\n

Brian Wood, director of support services for Nippon Dynawave, made the company\u2019s first public remarks Wednesday. He thanked first responders and the company\u2019s workforce. <\/p>\n

\u201cThese are our people,\u201d Wood said. \u201cWe are focused on our people. We are focused on helping our responders find and recover those people. That is our focus today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Aerial<\/p>\n

Aerial views of the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. in Longview, Wash., showing the scene of a chemical implosion that occurred in the morning on May 26, 2026.<\/p>\n

Brandon Swanson \/ OPB<\/p>\n

\u2018A very dedicated worker\u2019<\/p>\n

Little is publicly known about those who died. <\/p>\n

Friends and family confirmed to OPB that Gilbert Bernal, 52, was among the workers killed by the implosion. He was an instrument technician who worked at Nippon Dynawave for more than a decade, they said.<\/p>\n

Bernal was proud of his career, having taken night classes while being a father of two and working full-time at a gas station, his daughter Geo Bernal said during an interview. He had worked for multiple companies prior to joining Nippon.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe always, always talked so highly of trade school,\u201d she said with a laugh. \u201cHe was always so disappointed that my brother and I never pursued anything of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Family friend Todd Cornwell described Gilbert as someone who went out of his way to help others. <\/p>\n

\"Gilbert<\/p>\n

Gilbert Bernal poses with his grandchild in an undated photo provided by his family. Bernal is among the fatalities at the chemical explosion at Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co., in Longview on May 26, 2026.<\/p>\n

Courtesy of Geo Bernal<\/p>\n

Bernal, his wife and Cornwell attended a weekly bible study together on Tuesday nights. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe actually had it last night without him and spent the whole time basically talking about how much of an impact he had on our lives,\u201d Cornwell said, describing him as a \u201cvery dedicated worker.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bernal\u2019s death puts the family in financial straits, Cornwell added. <\/p>\n

They\u2019re not going to have any income,\u201d he said. \u201cThey still got bills to pay. Food costs, everything else. Electricity, rent; all those things that need to be covered.\u201d<\/p>\n

Across Southwest Washington, the scope of the disaster has shaken many people in close-knit communities. Hundreds of people gathered for a vigil at a park in Longview Tuesday night<\/a>, sharing prayers, songs and somber resolve within one another.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is an enormous tragedy, a worst case scenario,\u201d Washington state Sen. Jeff Wilson, who lives in Longview, told OPB\u2019s \u201cThink Out Loud\u201d on Wednesday. \u201cEverybody is going to have a whole bunch of questions, as they should. Every one of those questions deserves to be answered. It\u2019s going to take a little time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wilson, who occasionally worked at the Nippon mill when he ran an environmental business, said the complexity of the industrial site \u2013 criss-crossed by pipelines, powerlines and chemicals \u2013 presents a challenge for recovery efforts.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Showing image 1 of 17<\/p>\n

People cry and hug during a vigil for the victims of the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. chemical disaster in Longview, Wash., on May 26, 2026.<\/p>\n

Eli Imadali \/ OPB<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Showing image 1 of 17<\/p>\n

Laura Williquette, right, holds her daughter, Brynn Williquette, 11, as she cries during a vigil at R.A. Long Park for the victims of the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. chemical implosion in Longview, Wash., on May 26, 2026.<\/p>\n

Eli Imadali \/ OPB<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Showing image 1 of 17<\/p>\n

People embrace as one holds the photo of a loved one still unaccounted for in the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. chemical disaster during a vigil for the victims of the tragedy in Longview, Wash., on May 26, 2026.<\/p>\n

Eli Imadali \/ OPB<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Showing image 1 of 17<\/p>\n

Candles and flowers glow in R.A. Long Park after a vigil for the victims of the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. chemical disaster in Longview, Wash., on May 26, 2026.<\/p>\n

Eli Imadali \/ OPB<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Showing image 1 of 17<\/p>\n

People hold pictures of their family members still unaccounted for during a vigil at R.A. Long Park for the victims of the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. chemical disaster in Longview, Wash., on May 26, 2026.<\/p>\n

Eli Imadali \/ OPB<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Showing image 1 of 17<\/p>\n

Northlake Baptist Church Pastor Mark Schmutz says a prayer at a vigil for the victims of the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. chemical disaster in Longview, Wash., on May 26, 2026.<\/p>\n

Eli Imadali \/ OPB<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Showing image 1 of 17<\/p>\n

Cowlitz County Coroner Dana Tucker listens during a press conference after the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. chemical disaster in front of the facility in Longview, Wash., on May 26, 2026.<\/p>\n

Eli Imadali \/ OPB<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Showing image 1 of 17<\/p>\n

Longview Mayor Erik Halvorson speaks during a press conference after the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. chemical disaster in front of the facility in Longview, Wash., on May 26, 2026.<\/p>\n

Eli Imadali \/ OPB<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Showing image 1 of 17<\/p>\n

Northlake Baptist Church Pastor Mark Schmutz says a prayer at a vigil for the victims of the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. chemical disaster in Longview, Wash., on May 26, 2026.<\/p>\n

Eli Imadali \/ OPB<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Showing image 1 of 17<\/p>\n

Wax drips off a candle during a vigil for the victims of the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. chemical disaster in Longview, Wash., on May 26, 2026.<\/p>\n

Eli Imadali \/ OPB<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Showing image 1 of 17<\/p>\n

Family, friends and community members attend a vigil for the victims of the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. chemical disaster in Longview, Wash., on May 26, 2026.<\/p>\n

Eli Imadali \/ OPB<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Showing image 1 of 17<\/p>\n

Two girls cry and embrace during a vigil for victims of the tragedy in Longview, Wash., on May 26, 2026.<\/p>\n

Eli Imadali \/ OPB<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Showing image 1 of 17<\/p>\n

Caution tape billows in the wind in front of Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. after a chemical disaster at the facility in Longview, Wash., on May 26, 2026.<\/p>\n

Eli Imadali \/ OPB<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Showing image 1 of 17<\/p>\n

United States Environmental Protection Agency crews work on the scene across the street from the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co., where a chemical tank rupture occurred early Tuesday morning, in Longview, Wash., on May 26, 2026.<\/p>\n

Eli Imadali \/ OPB<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Showing image 1 of 17<\/p>\n

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson speaks during a press conference after the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. chemical disaster in front of the facility in Longview, Wash., on May 26, 2026.<\/p>\n

Eli Imadali \/ OPB<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Showing image 1 of 17<\/p>\n

From left, Longview resident Kaeden, 16, places candles atop power box as his sister Lillian, 6, mother Rebecca and sister Morgan, 6, watch after a vigil for the victims of the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. chemical disaster in Longview, Wash., on May 26, 2026.<\/p>\n

Eli Imadali \/ OPB<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Showing image 1 of 17<\/p>\n

Washington Department of Ecology and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials stand as part of a press conference after the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. chemical disaster in front of the facility in Longview, Wash., on May 26, 2026.<\/p>\n

Eli Imadali \/ OPB<\/p>\n

\uf054Investigations underway<\/p>\n

Local officials are still trying to understand the scope of the environmental impact after testing samples showed some of the corrosive chemical spilled into the Columbia River. <\/p>\n

\u201cAt this time there continued to be no identified negative health impacts to the city, to the surrounding air quality or the city of Longview\u2019s drinking water system,\u201d Goldstein said.<\/p>\n

Officials are still asking the public to avoid the area, as well as the surrounding dikes and ditches, due to possible chemical exposure.<\/p>\n

Along with state agencies investigating the tank rupture, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board announced Wednesday it had opened an investigation into what the agency described as \u201cthe fatal chemical tank implosion.\u201d <\/p>\n

The independent federal agency, which is responsible for determining the causes of catastrophic releases of hazardous substances, sent a team to Longview.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe CSB is opening an investigation into this tragic incident to determine how it happened and what can be done to prevent something like this from happening again,\u201d the board\u2019s chairperson Steve Owens said in a statement.<\/p>\n

\"U.S.<\/p>\n

U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington\u2019s third congressional district speaks with family members of victims following a press conference at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co., on May 27, 2026. <\/p>\n

Eli Imadali \/ OPB<\/p>\n

U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, who represents Longview, said that an investigation is important but should not be allowed to be the \u201clast straw for a viable mill.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFolks here have watched mill after mill close across this state, always wondering if their mill is next,\u201d she said. The congresswoman called for a plan to address failures \u201cso we can have safe jobs, come home to our families at night, and rebuild public trust.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mill, purchased by the Japanese company Nippon from Weyerhaeuser in 2016 for $285 million, employs about 1,000 people, according to the Washington Department of Ecology. About 550 work in pulp and paper operations, and another 450 work at its liquid packaging plant, making cardboard milk cartons and other packaging.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will cooperate to the maximum extent that we can with the investigation,\u201d Wood, with Nippon Dynawave, said. \u201cIt is our duty and our obligation to do so. We look forward to a full and complete investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is a developing story and may be updated.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Hazardous materials workers walk on the scene at Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co., where a chemical disaster occurred May…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":669177,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[23,3,291632,21,19,22,20,25,24],"class_list":["post-669176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-united-states","tag-america","tag-news","tag-southwest-washington-public-safety","tag-united-states","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-unitedstates","tag-unitedstatesofamerica","tag-us","tag-usa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/669176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=669176"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/669176\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/669177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=669176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=669176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=669176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}