Chemical tank was deemed unsafe months before deadly Washington blast

Chemical tank was deemed unsafe months before deadly Washington blast The explosion at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Firm in Longview, Washington, killed 11 residents and injured a number of others.

Key points

• When it ruptured, the tank published some 900, 000 gallons of "extremely hot highly caustic white liquor, " killing 11 employees and seriously injuring three others.
• Nippon Dynawave Packaging Firm spokesperson Sam Jefferies informed USA TODAY the firm supports the board's work toward establishing "a complete factual record that can help prevent future tragedies."
• The bodies of all nine missing workers at the Washington state paper facility where a chemical tank exploded have been recovered and identified.
• The tank's failure took place at 7: 09 a.m.
• The blast sent a number of mill workers and one firefighter to local hospitals for treatment after suffering injuries including chemical burns.

Notably, the bodies of all nine missing workers at the Washington state paper facility where a chemical tank exploded have been recovered and identified.

Meanwhile, a chemical tank that exploded at a Washington state paper mill earlier this year and left almost a dozen residents dead was known to be unfit for service almost a year prior to the deadly blast, a federal investigation report published on Aug. 28 discovered.

Notably, the explosion that injured a number of others, including one firefighter, took place May 26 at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Business in Longview, Washington, regarding 45 miles north of Portland, Oregon.

Notably, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, in an update published on its investigation into the catastrophic failure of a 1.2-million-gallon atmospheric storage tank at the mill, identified the firm was informed 10 months earlier the tank was "not fit for continued service and could fail."

When it ruptured, the tank published some 900, 000 gallons of "extremely hot highly caustic white liquor, " killing 11 employees and seriously injuring three others. As the report notes, five other employees additionally suffered minor injuries.

Meanwhile, the blast sent a number of mill workers and one firefighter to local hospitals for treatment after suffering injuries including chemical burns. Scott Goldstein, chief of Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue, remarked injuries ranged from "critical, severe to minor, " USA TODAY previously noted. A 'high likelihood/consequence of failure'.

"The investigation found an inspection of the exterior shell of G Tank conducted in July 2025 – approximately 10 months before the fatal incident – identified that significant portions of the tank's carbon-steel shell had thinned below the calculated minimum safe thickness, " investigators wrote in the report.

Unless it was repaired, the investigation discovered, there was a "high likelihood/consequence of failure."

Despite the inspection's findings, the report continues, the tank remained in service until catastrophic explosion.

Meanwhile, the tank's failure took place at 7: 09 a.m. PT while 17 employees were on the ground level of the mill, seven maintenance employees and one foreman were in the company's mechanical maintenance shop, eight maintenance employees were in its electrical maintenance shop and one operator was in the mill courtyard.

Most of the tank's chemical contents published, "creating a massive wave of white liquor" that investigators stated rapidly flooded the courtyard and slid toward buildings. The force of the moving liquid crushed vehicles and destroyed one of the surrounding buildings' roll-up doors and a wall.

Notably, the chemicals then entered the lower floors of the buildings through door seals where investigators remarked morning meetings were taking place.

For context, the report is part of an ongoing investigation, the federal agency remarked, adding it was still working to determine the official cause of the explosion.

"Our focus remains on supporting affected families and employees and taking the necessary steps toward fully reopening the Longview facility, " Jefferies wrote in an email, adding the firm "will carefully consider the update and all information developed as the investigation proceeds" and will continue working with the board and relevant authorities.

"We believe the responsible course is to allow the full investigative process to proceed and establish a complete and accurate record before conclusions are reached, " Jefferies remarked.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund. Share your feedback to support improve our site!

For now, chemical tank was deemed unsafe months before deadly Washington blast remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.