Chemical Explosion at US Paper Mill Leaves One Dead and Nine Missing

Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility has been the site of a deadly industrial accident after a chemical explosion killed at least one person and left nine others missing, authorities in Washington have confirmed.

The explosion occurred at about 07:15 PDT at the paper mill in Longview, located roughly 130 miles south of Seattle.

Emergency officials say the blast was triggered by the rupture of a large tank containing “white liquor,” a highly corrosive chemical used in the paper-making process.

Rescue operations remain ongoing, but authorities warn that the damaged tank is still unstable, creating dangerous conditions for emergency responders working at the scene.

According to the Longview Fire Department, nine people have been injured, including eight workers and one firefighter, with injuries ranging from minor to critical.

Officials initially estimated the tank contained about 80,000 gallons of chemicals, but later revised the figure to approximately 900,000 gallons, with a significant volume still believed to be inside the damaged structure.

Fire and rescue teams say recovery efforts are being slowed by structural risks, and additional operations will only continue once the site is stabilised.

The company, Nippon Dynawave Packaging, confirmed the explosion was caused by the tank rupture and said emergency efforts are focused on safety and containment.

Authorities have urged the public to stay away from the area as investigations and recovery operations continue, though officials say there is currently no wider threat to surrounding communities.

Emergency services describe the situation as being in a recovery phase as they work to secure the site and account for those still missing.