All nine missing workers identified after Nippon paper mill explosion

All nine workers missing after a catastrophic tank implosion at the Nippon Dynawave paper mill in Longview, Washington, have been recovered and identified, according to local officials. Longview Fire Chief Brad Hannig announced the conclusion of the recovery efforts on the fifth day after the incident, stating, "Today on day 5 of this incident, I can share that we have recovered the ninth and final missing employee of this incident." Cowlitz County Coroner Dana Tucker confirmed the identification of the nine victims, aged from 26 to 54. Among those confirmed deceased were Gilbert Bernal, Tyler Covington, Brad Covington, Robert Wilson, Dale Miller, Jared Ammons, Braydon Finkas, Clinton (CJ) Doran, and John Forsburg.

The explosion occurred on May 26 when a white liquor tank at the mill experienced a catastrophic failure. Two workers were pronounced dead shortly after the incident, and the circumstances surrounding the explosion remain under investigation. Kurt Stich from Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue described the recovery operations as challenging due to hazardous conditions amidst the debris, highlighting that the recovery work was methodical and labor-intensive.

Concerns regarding environmental impacts have also arisen, with reports of increasing dead fish in local waterways following the blast. Brooks Stanfield from the Environmental Protection Agency noted, "We have seen dead fish in the ditches and canal network in Longview," and officials have set up a hotline for community members to report environmental damage.

Community leaders have expressed appreciation for the local support during this tragic time, noting a significant response to assist the families of the victims, as fundraiser pages have been established for those affected.