Overview
- A large circular white‑liquor storage tank at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility collapsed on Tuesday, releasing an estimated more than 500,000 gallons of highly alkaline white liquor that flooded buildings and work areas.
- Recovery teams completed the search and recovered all 11 victims after several days of slow, limited entries because of unstable structures and the need to decontaminate remains and responders before identification.
- Emergency crews flushed and diluted contaminated ditches and discharge paths to the Columbia River, found dead fish in local sloughs, and said ongoing monitoring has not detected unsafe levels in drinking water or in the air.
- The U.S. Chemical Safety Board and Washington State Labor & Industries have opened technical investigations that are focusing on possible vacuum‑relief system failure, maintenance practices and corrosion as causes of the implosion.
- Families, the local union and community leaders are demanding transparency and records from the mill while officials have ordered flags lowered and local officials warn cleanup and repairs will be lengthy and could affect jobs in the mill town.