Two killed, 9 feared dead after chemical tank implosion in US paper mill
Washington, May 28
The death toll from a chemical tank implosion at a paper mill in Longview in the US state of Washington rose to two, and nine others remain missing and are presumed dead, local officials said.
The incident involved a tank containing "white liquor," a corrosive chemical solution used in pulp and paper processing, with a capacity of about 900,000 gallons, officials said on Wednesday (local time).
The US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board announced Wednesday that it had opened an investigation into the incident and that a team of its investigators would be arriving at the site.
Local fire officials said the tank released a large amount of the corrosive chemical, noting that recovery efforts would be "slow, methodical and deliberate" due to the structural instability of the damaged tank and the risk of exposure to corrosive chemicals, reports Xinhua news agency.
Any recovered victims would undergo decontamination before being transported to the coroner's office for identification and family notification, officials added.
Local officials said the rupture had not affected the safety of air and drinking water in Longview, though some contamination had reached the Columbia River, and testing was ongoing.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said Wednesday that officials were bracing for the possibility that the incident could become "the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history."
The tank implosion occurred at a facility operated by Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co., a subsidiary of Japan's Nippon Paper Group. A company official said Wednesday that the company was focused on helping emergency responders search for the missing and supporting the victims' families and employees.
The cause of the incident remains under investigation.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone working in chemical safety, this is a nightmare scenario. White liquor is extremely corrosive and hazardous. The fact that nine people are still missing and presumed dead is absolutely devastating. My thoughts are with the families. Industrial safety protocols need to be reviewed globally after incidents like this.
A 900,000-gallon tank going at a paper mill is no joke. It's alarming that the tank was this massive and such a catastrophic failure happened. I wonder why didn't safety checks catch issues earlier? And now there's contamination in Columbia River? Water is life. 😢 We need stricter safety protocols for such industries. In India too, many factories have poor safety standards. This is a wake-up call for all.
I'm glad the US Chemical Safety Board is investigating quickly. But the governor calling this potentially "the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history" is sobering. Prayers for the victims and their families. 🙏
Another industrial tragedy, this time in the US. It's a reminder that even developed countries face such disasters. The risk of chemical exposure and structural instability makes rescue operations dangerous. Hope the recovery team stays safe. Also, it's good that the Japanese parent company is cooperating. But this must lead to global reforms in industrial safety.
This is absolutely tragic. 💔 Nine people presumed dead and two confirmed? That's 11 lives lost or at risk. The decontamination process sounds intense. I hope the families receive support. It's also concerning that some of the chemical reached the Columbia River—environmental impact could be long-term
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