Washington: Nine missing people at Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility feared dead after chemical implosion
‘We’re bracing ourselves for this being the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history.’
Search efforts for nine people missing after a chemical tank implosion in the US have transitioned into a recovery mission, authorities have said.
It would bring the death toll of the Washington tragedy to 11.
The implosion occurred around 7.15am local time on Tuesday, with images from the scene showing the tank in ruins, while nearby items like large metal poles had been blasted from their footings, one crushing a white van.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“We’re bracing ourselves for this being the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history,” Washington Governor Bob Ferguson told a news conference.
In addition to the two dead and nine missing, eight people were injured in the implosion, some critically.
Authorities said that injuries included those related to burns and inhalation.
It was unclear where exactly the nine missing people were in the facility, Cowlitz 2 Fire Chief Scott Goldstein said, adding they had searched the area that was searchable.
“As of this morning, we declared this incident a transition from rescue to recovery,” he said on Wednesday, local time.
Longview Fire Department Battalion Chief Matt Amos said the recovery effort was being performed in an “extremely hazardous” environment.
Authorities have not yet determined what caused the 3.4 million litre vat at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility to implode early on Tuesday, local time.
Inside the tank was toxic chemicals, containing a mixture that is being referred to as “white liquor”.
The “white liquor” is understood to be a corrosive substance, made up predominantly of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulphide, and is used to turn wood into paper for things like shopping bags, and can cause severe burns on skin.
The contamination has entered the Columbia River, authorities have confirmed.
About a dozen carp fish have died.
“Testing of water samples has confirmed contamination entered the Columbia River during the day yesterday. Additional evaluations are underway to better understand the scope and extent of that environmental impact,” Chief Goldstein said.
“At this time, there... continue to be no identified negative health impacts to... the surrounding air quality or the city of Longview’s drinking water system.”
So far, about 2 million litres of has left the tank, Chief Goldstein said, with the rest slowly leaking out.
Locals have been asked to avoid the area.
Nippon Paper Group, in a statement, said it was offering its “deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families”.
Nippon Paper Industries 3863.T, Japan’s second-biggest paper manufacturer by sales, acquired the Longview plant from Seattle-based timber company Weyerhaeuser WY.N for $US225 million ($A315 million) and established the wholly-owned subsidiary Nippon Dynawave Packaging in 2016.
With AP
