UMVA has learned that a catastrophic rupture at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company plant in Longview, Washington, unleashed a torrent of lethal “white liquor,” claiming eleven lives and maiming eight others.
The disaster struck at 7:15 a.m. during a shift change, when a massive tank—capable of holding 900,000 gallons of caustic sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide—failed while only partially filled.
The implosion sent a wave of corrosive chemicals surging across the mill, overturning trucks, shattering structures, and spilling into nearby ditches and the Columbia River.
First‑responders from multiple fire and rescue agencies converged on the scene, battling flames and navigating a treacherous landscape of unstable metal and toxic fumes.
Initial reports indicated at least one worker dead and several injured, with nine individuals unaccounted for; two victims were rushed to hospitals, one of whom later succumbed.
Rescue crews faced a grim reality: the volatile environment rendered the tank’s remnants dangerously unstable, forcing a painstaking, multi‑day effort to recover the missing workers.
By Saturday, Longview Fire Chief Brad announced that all nine missing bodies had been retrieved and decontaminated, bringing the final death toll to eleven.
The list of victims reads like a community’s heartbeat: grandfather Gilbert Bernal, brothers Tyler and Brad Covington, devoted husband Jared Ammons, electrician Braydon Finkas, spiritual guide CJ Doran, trivia‑night regular John Forsberg, and others whose lives were abruptly stolen.
Chief Hannig, speaking at a press conference, expressed hope that the recovered remains would offer families a measure of closure as they begin the long road to healing.
Authorities stressed that the site remains a hazardous zone, with cleanup operations expected to continue for weeks, while assuring residents that drinking water and air quality are not threatened.
Operations at the mill have been largely halted, leaving only essential infrastructure running on a skeletal staff.
State records reveal a troubling pattern of safety violations at the facility, with multiple citations issued between 2019 and 2025 for fall‑protection failures, respiratory‑protection lapses, pandemic‑related face‑covering breaches, and interference with injury investigations.
Two additional investigations were still open at the time of the explosion, underscoring lingering concerns about the plant’s compliance and oversight.
