How a chemical tank disaster struck at the heart of a Washington state mill town
Summary
A chemical tank containing a wood-breaking mixture ruptured at a paper mill in Longview, Washington, killing 11 people. The accident caused extensive damage and has deeply affected a community closely tied to the lumber and paper industries for generations.Key Facts
- The chemical tank held over 500,000 gallons (1.9 million liters) of caustic chemicals used in paper production.
- The tank failure occurred at Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co., a paper mill in Longview, Washington.
- The chemical spill was strong enough to overturn vehicles and damage mill buildings.
- 11 people died as a result of the tank rupture.
- Longview is a mill town historically linked to the lumber and paper industry, with many residents working in the mills.
- Local leaders and residents expressed concern for the victims’ families and the future of mill jobs.
- The parent company, Nippon Paper Group of Tokyo, is evaluating the accident’s financial impact.
- The incident is one of the deadliest U.S. workplace accidents in recent years.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.