Several people were killed while others suffered critical injuries after a massive chemical tank imploded and ruptured at a packaging facility in Washington state, United States, on Tuesday morning.
The incident occurred at a Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in Longview, located in Cowlitz County, about 45 miles north of Portland, Oregon.
Emergency responders remained at the scene for hours following the explosion, with authorities confirming multiple fatalities and several critically injured victims, although the exact number of deaths has yet to be officially released.
According to a joint statement issued by the Longview Fire Department, Nippon Dynawave Packaging and the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Department, the incident involved a large tank containing “white liquor”, a highly corrosive chemical solution used in paper pulp production.
The tank reportedly ruptured at around 7.15am local time.
Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue chief Scott Goldstein said the 80,000-gallon tank was believed to be around 60 per cent full at the time of the implosion.
Multiple victims suffered chemical burns and other serious injuries before being rushed to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment.
Authorities revealed that at least nine workers and one firefighter were transported from the site, while the total number of fatalities remains under investigation.
PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center later confirmed it received nine patients connected to the incident, including one victim who died. Six patients were reported to be in fair condition, while two others were transferred to other medical facilities.
Despite the severity of the explosion, officials assured the public there was no immediate danger to surrounding communities.
The tragedy has raised fresh concerns over industrial safety procedures involving hazardous chemicals, especially in large-scale manufacturing and processing plants.
Meanwhile, authorities in Southern California are also monitoring another industrial chemical scare involving an overheating tank containing highly flammable methyl methacrylate at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove.
Officials said the risk of an explosion at the California site had significantly reduced after a crack in the tank helped release mounting pressure. Emergency crews are continuing efforts to stabilise the situation and allow evacuated residents to return home safely.
