Recovery Efforts Conclude at Washington State Paper Mill Explosion Site

Authorities have recovered the remains of the last two workers missing after an explosion at a Washington State paper mill. The total number of fatalities now stands at 11.

The incident occurred at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging plant in Longview, Washington, when a tank containing 600,000 gallons of caustic ‘white liquor’ exploded. This chemical is used in processing wood chips into packaging board, like that used for juice cartons.

Initially, two deaths were confirmed with nine workers unaccounted for. The challenging search environment necessitated the use of specialized protective equipment and decontamination procedures due to persistent hazardous chemicals.

At a weekend news briefing, Dana Tucker, Cowlitz County coroner, identified the deceased: Gilbert Bernal, 52; Tyler Covington, 29; Brad Covington, 27; Robert Wilson, 48; Dale Miller, 54; Jared Ammons, 35; Braydon Finkas, 38; Clinton Doran, 26; John Forsberg, 51; Norman Barlow, 58; and Dillon Miller.

Most victims were in an assembly area for daily assignments at the time of the blast. By mid-week, responders had located seven of the initially absent workers. On Saturday, teams completed their search under severe conditions at the site, recovering the last two bodies.

This methodical and intense work has been immensely challenging for all involved, said Kurt Stitch, deputy chief of Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue, during the news conference.

Nippon Dynawave is cooperating in investigations to ascertain the explosion’s cause. The disaster, ranking among the deadliest industrial tragedies in recent years, leads to questions regarding the plant’s future and potential impacts on the local economy. The mill is a significant regional employer with about 550 workers, although longstanding changes in the industry have seen many such operations close.

State and federal environmental officials have been present since the explosion, monitoring for chemical dangers in the air and water. The Columbia River faces minimal pollution concerns due to its size, but authorities advise against contact with storm-drained waterways around the plant.