V tovarni Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company v Longviewu je počil rezervoar s sulfitno lužino, močno alkalno raztopino, ki vsebuje natrijev hidroksid in natrijev sulfid in se uporablja v procesu izdelave papirja, so v skupni izjavi za javnost sporočili podjetje in gasilci.

Po najnovejših podatkih je pri tem umrl najmanj en človek, devet ljudi še pogrešajo, devet pa je poškodovanih. Med poškodovanimi je po navedbah gasilcev osem zaposlenih v tovarni in en gasilec.

???????? A chemical tank imploded at a paper packaging plant in Longview, Washington, killing multiple workers and leaving others unaccounted for.

The tank held white liquor, a corrosive chemical used in the pulp process. One firefighter was also injured in the response.

The U.S.… pic.twitter.com/9owq7T7nVh

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 26, 2026

Po navedbah gasilcev incident v tovarni ne predstavlja nevarnosti za okoliške prebivalce. So jim pa svetovali, naj se izogibajo območju.

Predstavniki podjetja so navedli, da je bilo v rezervoarju 3,4 milijona litrov kemikalije, po incidentu je je v njem ostalo še okoli 340.000 litrov.

NEW: Multiple people injured after major chemical explosion at Nippon facility in Longview, Washington, fire department. pic.twitter.com/leQ9bIF0Nr

— Scope Report (@ScopeReport_) May 26, 2026

Today, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at approximately 7:15 a.m. local time, a chemical tank at the Nippon Dynawave paper mill in Longview, Washington imploded, causing a major chemical release.

Multiple workers have been confirmed dead, others remain unaccounted for, and several… pic.twitter.com/xVjZtwhtej

— Lee Merritt (@LeeMerrittesq) May 26, 2026