Overview
- A large circular white‑liquor storage tank at the Nippon Dynawave plant ruptured during a Tuesday morning shift change and released more than 500,000 gallons of a highly alkaline, caustic mixture.
- Officials have confirmed 11 workers dead with the majority of remains recovered and decontaminated while two bodies were reported recovered most recently as crews expand access to previously unsafe areas.
- Recovery work is methodical and limited because unstable structures and corrosive residue require engineering checks, repeated decontamination of victims and responders, and drone inspections before entries.
- Environmental teams have flushed and diluted drainage ditches and monitored the Columbia River, reporting localized fish kills and pockets of elevated pH while saying municipal drinking water and air tests show no broad public threat so far.
- The U.S. Chemical Safety Board and Washington State Labor & Industries have opened investigations focused on vacuum‑relief components, tank maintenance and operational practices as families, union leaders and local officials demand answers and support for victims’ households.