The remains of all missing workers from a catastrophic chemical tank implosion at a Washington state paper mill have been recovered, officials confirmed Saturday, bringing the death toll to 11 and ending a five-day search that tested rescue crews and rattled the community of Longview.
When a massive chemical tank ruptured at a paper mill in Longview, Washington, killing 11 people, it didn’t just destroy infrastructure — it tore through the fabric of a community built around the industry. For generations, families have relied on mills for livelihoods, and now grief mixes with fear for the future.
Rescue crews at a pulp and paper mill in Longview, Washington, have recovered seven of the nine workers who remained missing after a chemical tank implosion earlier this week, bringing the total confirmed fatalities to 11. The tank, which held a caustic chemical used in paper processing, ruptured Tuesday during a shift change, triggering a complex and hazardous recovery operation.
The search for nine missing workers at a Washington state paper mill has been downgraded from rescue to recovery operations, officials said Wednesday, raising the suspected death toll to 11 after a massive chemical vat imploded. Governor Bob Ferguson called it potentially the deadliest industrial disaster in modern state history.
At least one person was killed and nine remain missing after a 900,000-gallon tank containing a hazardous chemical mixture ruptured at a paper mill in Longview, Washington. Recovery efforts stalled Tuesday over safety concerns but are expected to restart Wednesday morning.
“At the moment, we are not aware of any rescues that are yet to be made,” Cowlitz Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein said during a news conference.
A catastrophic tank failure at a Longview paper mill left at least one person dead and nine unaccounted for, as rescue crews shifted to recovery efforts amid ongoing safety concerns.
Authorities confirmed Thursday that a third injured worker has died from injuries sustained in a tank failure at a Washington state pulp mill, raising the presumed death toll to 11.
