An explosion has occurred at a paper mill in the U.S.: there are fatalities and people missing
A massive explosion occurred at a pulp and paper mill in Washington state. According to preliminary reports, at least one person has died, and others are missing. The incident took place at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. plant in Longview, where a tank containing chemicals exploded.
This was reported by the Associated Press.
As a result of the incident, at least one person has died, and nine others are currently missing. The fire battalion commander described the scene as a “mass casualty incident.” According to authorities, several employees and one firefighter suffered burns or smoke inhalation, with the victims’ conditions ranging from mild to critical.
The explosion occurred on Tuesday, May 26. The site of the destruction was a tank that was approximately 60% full of “white lye”—a highly corrosive mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide used for wood digestion. After the tank ruptured, the chemical leaked into a drainage ditch, prompting the state Department of Ecology to dispatch a special team to the site to assess the environmental impact. About 40 firefighters, paramedics, and a regional hazardous materials response team arrived to address the aftermath of the accident. The victims were hospitalized at Longview and Vancouver hospitals following decontamination procedures.
The fire and rescue chief reported that the exact number of fatalities is currently being determined, and details about the victims will not be released until their families have been notified. He also noted that it is too early to determine the cause of the explosion. The Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. plant, which employs about 1,000 people, is a key enterprise for the industrial city of Longview and specializes in the production of raw materials for paper cups, boxes, and other packaging products. U.S. Senator Patty Murray has already expressed her condolences to the families of the deceased and injured, calling the incident an absolute tragedy.
As a reminder, an explosion occurred at a gas processing plant in Iran, injuring three workers.
