Nippon Dynawave Packaging Chemical Tank Rupture in Longview, Washington
A chemical tank rupture at Nippon Dynawave Packaging in Longview, Washington, on May 26, 2026, has resulted in 11 confirmed fatalities, with crews recovering the remains of six of the nine previously missing workers on May 29, 2026. As of May 29, 2026, officials are flushing contaminated water from Longview's ditch system as dead carp indicate the spill has reached the Columbia River, though air and drinking water quality remain unaffected. The incident, which injured nine others, is under investigation by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board and is considered one of the deadliest U.S. workplace accidents in recent decades.
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May 2026 — 6 developments
Officials are flushing contaminated water from Longview's ditch system following the chemical tank r…
Officials are flushing contaminated water from Longview's ditch system following the chemical tank rupture, as dead carp have been found in nearby dikes, indicating the spill has reached the Columbia River. Air and drinking water quality remain unaffected.
Crews have recovered the remains of six of the nine workers missing after a chemical tank rupture at Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co.
Crews have recovered the remains of six of the nine workers missing after a chemical tank rupture at Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co., bringing the total death toll to 11. Nine people were initially injured, with four requiring advanced care at a burn center. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board is investigating the incident, which is considered one of the deadliest U.S. workplace accidents in recent decades.
A second employee has died following the chemical tank rupture at Nippon Dynawave Packaging, bringing the potential death toll to 11, with nine workers still unrecovered.
A second employee has died following the chemical tank rupture at Nippon Dynawave Packaging, bringing the potential death toll to 11, with nine workers still unrecovered. Recovery efforts are ongoing, and the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has launched an investigation into the incident. The rupture released "white liquor" into a drainage ditch impacting the Columbia River.
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has opened an investigation into the f…
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has opened an investigation into the fatal chemical tank implosion at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging paper mill in Longview, Washington. A team of CSB investigators arrived at the site on May 27, 2026. As of May 27, 2026, authorities confirmed two fatalities.
Just before 7:15 a.
Just before 7:15 a.m. PDT on May 26, 2026, a chemical tank at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in Longview, Washington, ruptured, leading to a catastrophic implosion. The tank contained approximately 900,000 gallons of white liquor, resulting in one confirmed fatality and nine missing workers presumed dead. Nine other individuals, including eight employees and one firefighter, sustained injuries ranging from minor to critical, with some suffering chemical burns and inhalation injuries. Recovery operations were suspended due to the unstable tank condition and hazardous chemical exposure, while the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) launched an investigation.
A second safety complaint was filed against Nippon Dynawave Packaging on May 6, 2026, concerning a sinkhole created by a failed drain.
A second safety complaint was filed against Nippon Dynawave Packaging on May 6, 2026, concerning a sinkhole created by a failed drain. This complaint, like the one in March, was under investigation by the state's labor and industries department and was not directly related to the chemical tank that later ruptured. These complaints indicated ongoing workplace safety issues at the facility.
March 2026 — 1 developments
Safety complaints were filed against Nippon Dynawave Packaging on March 4, 2026, and again on May 6, 2026.
Safety complaints were filed against Nippon Dynawave Packaging on March 4, 2026, and again on May 6, 2026. The March complaint, filed anonymously, concerned a valve on an aqua ammonia clarifier tank, which was not the tank involved in the later implosion. Both complaints were unrelated to the subsequent chemical tank rupture and remained open investigations by the state's labor and industries department.
January 2025 — 1 developments
In 2025, another fire occurred on the Nippon Dynawave property in Longview, Washington.
In 2025, another fire occurred on the Nippon Dynawave property in Longview, Washington. While this incident did not result in any injuries, it marked a recurring pattern of fire-related events at the facility. The repeated occurrences of fires contributed to a history of safety concerns at the plant.
July 2023 — 1 developments
A significant industrial fire erupted at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging site in Longview, Washington, on the evening of July 18, 2023.
A significant industrial fire erupted at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging site in Longview, Washington, on the evening of July 18, 2023. The blaze was fueled by large wood chip piles, generating thick smoke that affected air quality across southwest Washington and into the Portland metropolitan area for several days. Although no injuries were reported, the cause of the fire remained under investigation, raising concerns about safety protocols at the facility.
January 2020 — 1 developments
State regulators cited the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in Longview, Washington, for multiple environmental violations in 2020 and 2021.
State regulators cited the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in Longview, Washington, for multiple environmental violations in 2020 and 2021. These citations were related to high-pH wastewater discharges and other permit exceedances, leading to penalties. These incidents highlighted ongoing regulatory scrutiny of the plant's operations prior to the major chemical tank rupture.