Recovery Complete After Washington Paper Mill Explosion

Officials in Washington state confirmed the recovery of all missing victims from the explosion at a paper mill. Longview Fire Chief Brad Hannig announced on Saturday that the last of the nine missing employees had been found. The chemical tank implosion and rupture at the Nippon Dynawave plant on Tuesday led to a total of 11 deaths.

The deceased have been identified as Gilberto Bernal, 52; Tyler Covington, 29; Brad Covington, 27; Robert Wilson, 48; Dale Miller, 54; Jared Ammons, 35; Braydon Finkas, 38; Clinton Duran, 26; John Forsberg, 51; Norman Barlow, 58; and Dillon Miller. A vigil took place for the victims in Longview, Washington.

The plant’s tank was meant to hold 900,000 gallons of a hazardous substance known as white liquor. This mixture contains sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfide, and disodium carbonate, used in paper-pulping. The incident occurred at 7:15 a.m. during a shift change.

Kurt Stitch, deputy chief with Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue, described the recovery as a methodical and challenging process. The effort involved moving heavy debris and using drones to ensure thorough coverage. Officials worked to dilute high-pH water in contaminated ditches, reporting improvement in pH levels by Friday.

These ditches lie above an aquifer and well field that supplies Longview’s drinking water. However, authorities diverted contaminated water away from the wellhead, ensuring the water remains safe. The cause of the implosion is still under investigation.