Deadly Chemical Tank Rupture Reported at Washington Factory
Deadly Chemical Tank Rupture Reported at Washington Factory
Updated at: May 27, 2026 at 01:00 AM
On the morning of May 26, 2026, a devastating industrial accident occurred at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. facility in Longview, Washington.
At approximately 7:19 a.m., an 80,000-gallon chemical storage tank suddenly ruptured, leading to a mass-casualty event.
The tank contained 'white liquor,' a caustic mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide used in the papermaking process.
The explosion resulted in multiple fatalities and critical injuries, with at least ten individuals—including facility staff and a responding firefighter—hospitalized due to chemical burns and inhalation.
Emergency crews, including hazmat teams, responded immediately to decontaminate victims and secure the site.
The Washington State Department of Ecology is currently monitoring the potential environmental impact.
Nippon Dynawave, a subsidiary of the Nippon Paper Group, has operated the facility since 1953.
