Alkaline Burns Cause Most Deaths in Longview Paper Mill Explosion
The Nippon Dynawave paper mill in Longview, Washington, suffered a chemical tank implosion that killed workers and injured dozens, according to KOMO. OPB noted that emergency responders, including Longview firefighters and Cowlitz County crews, arrived quickly and transported victims to PeaceHealth St. John and Southwest Medical Centers. CBS News reported that initial accounts listed one death and nine workers missing, prompting a large search effort.
Oregon Public Broadcasting later said the death toll rose to two while nine additional workers were presumed dead. KATU subsequently confirmed that all nine missing workers had been recovered and identified, and NBC News announced the final count of eleven fatalities. The Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office concluded that alkaline chemical burns caused ten of the deaths and ruled all fatalities accidental, KATU reported.