Recovery begins for nine missing after two die in Washington tank rupture

A tank rupture at Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co in Longview released white liquor, a highly destructive chemical mixture used in paper production. The death toll rose to two after one hospitalized person died, while nine others remained missing and presumed dead. Recovery began on Wednesday after a delay caused by safety concerns about the damaged tank’s structural integrity. Authorities said there is no hope of finding additional survivors and that operations shifted from rescue to recovery. Investigators from the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board were scheduled to arrive to investigate the fatal implosion. Crews searched the area in chemical protective equipment, and recovered victims would undergo decontamination before transport to the coroner. Officials reported no threat to the Columbia River community.

"Operations would be slow, methodical and deliberate and that recovered victims would undergo decontamination before being transported to the coroner. Crews are searching the area in chemical protective equipment. The priority is ensuring responder safety while treating every victim with the greatest dignity, care and respect as possible, Amos said. While the cause remained unknown, authorities in Longview said there was no threat to the Columbia River community, a city of about 40,000 people with long ties to the Washington and Oregon paper and lumber industries."

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