One Dead, Nine Missing After Massive Chemical Explosion At US Paper Mill

At least one person has been confirmed dead while nine others remain missing following a powerful chemical explosion at a paper mill in Washington State, United States authorities said Tuesday.

 The explosion occurred at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in Longview, approximately 130 miles south of Seattle. Emergency officials said the blast happened after a tank containing “white liquor” a highly corrosive industrial chemical used in paper production ruptured violently inside the plant.

The Longview Fire Department confirmed that several people were injured, including eight workers and one firefighter involved in the emergency response.

Authorities warned that the damaged chemical tank remains unstable, creating extremely hazardous conditions for rescue crews attempting to access parts of the site. “Recovery efforts remain complex due to ongoing safety concerns,” the fire department said in an official update.

Emergency responders have since focused on stabilizing the structure before continuing recovery operations for the missing victims. Officials urged members of the public to avoid the area while firefighting and rescue operations continue.

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson expressed condolences to the victims and confirmed that environmental and emergency personnel had been deployed to support local authorities. 

“I’m deeply saddened to hear that there have been fatalities,” Ferguson said.

“My thoughts are with the workers and their families, and with the first responders.”

White liquor, commonly used in paper processing, contains sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide highly alkaline chemicals capable of causing severe burns and toxic exposure.

Local media reports noted that the same facility experienced another major fire incident in 2023 when piles of wood reportedly burned for days.

The plant employs roughly 1,000 workers and manufactures paper products including tissues, cups, cartons and printer paper.

 The incident also comes amid separate chemical safety concerns in California, where authorities recently evacuated thousands over fears another industrial chemical tank could explode.