Eleven dead in Washington state chemical accident
Washington DC, May 31
The death toll from a chemical tank rupture in the US state of Washington climbed to 11 as crews recovered the bodies of all nine missing people, authorities said on Saturday.
Two fatalities had been confirmed after the tank containing "white liquor" - a chemical solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide used in making paper pulp - imploded at a Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility on Tuesday.
The search for the missing carried on through the week as recovery crews worked through debris in indoor areas and flew drones over the perimeter of the site, said Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue's Deputy Chief, Kurt Stitch.
The ruptured tank contained about 900,000 gallons (3.4 million litres) of white liquor, and tests confirmed that contamination entered the nearby Columbia River, officials have said, although no "negative health impacts" had been detected on air quality or the city of Longview's drinking water.
— ANI
Reader Comments
"White liquor" sounds so harmless but it's actually a caustic chemical. This is a grim reminder that industries need to invest more in safety infrastructure. Glad the water is safe at least.
Yaar, this is exactly why we need to be careful with chemical plants in populated areas. Even in India, we've had similar incidents in the past. 900,000 gallons of sodium hydroxide solution is no joke. The environmental impact on the Columbia River is a big concern.
I'm glad they recovered all the bodies so families can get closure. But this really highlights how dangerous industrial work can be. The company should face a thorough investigation. In US and India, worker safety should never be compromised for profits.
A chemical tank implosion with 900,000 gallons of corrosive liquid - this is a major disaster. Reminds me of the Visakhapatnam gas leak in 2020. Both countries need stronger oversight. RIP to the 11 workers.
Very sad news. The search using drones shows how modern technology helps in rescue operations. But this accident could have been prevented with regular maintenance checks. Our thoughts are with the families who lost their loved ones.
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