All Missing Workers Recovered After Washington Paper Mill Explosion

Authorities have recovered the remains of all nine missing workers following a chemical tank implosion at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. paper mill in Longview, Washington. The recovery effort concluded on Saturday, five days after the incident occurred early Tuesday morning during a shift change.

Longview Fire Chief Brad Hannig announced at a news conference, “Today, on day five of this incident, I can share that we have recovered the ninth and final missing employee of this incident.” The total death toll stands at 11, including two victims who were transported to hospitals and later died.

The victims were identified by Cowlitz County Coroner Dana Tucker as Gilberto Bernal, 52; Tyler Covington, 29; Bradley Covington, 27; Robert Wilson, 48; Dale Miller, 54; Jared Ammons, 35; Braydon Finkas, 38; Clinton Doran, 26; John Forsberg, 51; Norman Barlow, 58; and Dillon Miller.

Recovery operations were described as “methodical and incredibly difficult” by Kurt Stitch, deputy chief with Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue. The scene posed numerous hazards, including exposed electrical wiring and collapsed structures, requiring responders to rotate shifts and undergo decontamination each time they exited the site. Drone flyovers and the movement of heavy debris were part of the efforts to ensure no remains were missed.

The imploded tank was designed to hold approximately 900,000 gallons of white liquor, a hazardous chemical mixture containing sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfide, and disodium carbonate used in the paper-pulping process. At the time of the rupture, the tank was about two-thirds full. Authorities estimate roughly 25,000 gallons remain inside the damaged tank, leaking slowly.

Environmental concerns have been addressed by officials. Brooks Stanfield, Environmental Protection Agency coordinator, reported no hydrogen sulfide was detected in the air, despite it being a primary concern. Some of the chemical liquid leaked into nearby ditches situated above an aquifer and well field supplying Longview’s drinking water. Public Works Director Chris Collins assured the public that testing indicates the water remains safe to drink, emphasizing that the wells are deep and well protected.

Authorities are implementing a two-part plan to remediate the contaminated ditches by pumping fresh water to dilute the chemicals and then flushing the system into the Columbia River once pH levels are safe. Stanfield noted that white liquor reached the Columbia River immediately after the rupture but described the volume as “very limited,” confirming it is currently safe to fish and swim in the river. Dead fish have been found in the ditch complex, and officials expect to find more until the area is fully flushed.

Following the incident, Nippon Dynawave shut down the mill, maintaining only critical infrastructure with minimal staffing. Brian Wood, the company’s director of support services, stated that arrangements have been made to pay employees who are not working. He also emphasized the company’s commitment to safety, saying, “We work in a highly hazardous atmosphere and a highly hazardous industry. We approach it with the utmost care in everything that we do. I’ll let the facts speak for themselves.”

The investigation into the cause of the tank implosion remains ongoing.