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2026 Longview, Washington paper mill implosion

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Just before 7:15 am (PDT) on May 26, 2026, an implosion involving a 900,000-U.S.-gallon (3,400,000 L) tank of white liquor occurred at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in Longview, Washington, United States.[3] Eleven workers were killed, and seven more workers at the facility suffered burns and inhalation injuries, along with one firefighter.

2026 Longview, Washington
paper mill implosion
Map
DateMay 26, 2026 (2026-05-26)
Timec. 7:15 am (Pacific Daylight Time)
VenueNippon Dynawave Packaging facility
LocationLongview, Washington, US
Coordinates46°07′51″N 122°59′03″W / 46.1307°N 122.9843°W / 46.1307; -122.9843
TypeIndustrial accident
CauseImplosion of a 900,000-gallon white liquor tank
OutcomeContamination of the Columbia River[1]
Deaths11[2]
Non-fatal injuries8 (7 facility workers, 1 firefighter)

The incident is Washington state's deadliest industrial disaster since 1930, when 17 workers died in an explosion in Carbonado at a mine owned by the Pacific Coast coal company.[4][5][6]

Background

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Weyerhaeuser began operations at the site in 1929 with a sawmill complex and later opened its first pulp mill at the site in 1931[7]. In 1953 ground was broken on a new machine to produce paperboard for milk cartons and food containers, which was completed in 1955.[8][9] In 2016, Nippon Paper purchased the pulp mill, paper machine and associated utilities from Weyerhaeuser while divesting itself of the joint venture NORPAC Mill also on the site. Weyerhaeuser continues to operate a sawmill and log export dock at the Longview site.[10][11] Prior to this incident, the plant produced eight billion single-serve containers per year.[12][13][14]

Before the implosion, the mill had experienced several other industrial incidents. A large wood chip pile at the mill caught fire in July 2023, causing unhealthy air quality levels in Portland; the exact cause was never determined.[15][16][17] Another fire occurred in 2025 on the Nippon property with no injuries.[18][19] Nippon had been cited for violating pollution and other environmental standards before the implosion, including a $12,000 fine by the state Department of Ecology in the last two years. In 2025, the company was cited for moving equipment before an investigation into an employee's finger amputation could be completed. In March 2026, mill workers notified the state's Division of Occupational Safety and Health that a drain hole was creating a sinkhole in the floor.[20]

Implosion

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Due to the implosion, Industrial Way was shut down.[21] During the response, the Washington National Guard and Washington State Guard provided decontamination support to search and recovery teams at the site.[22][23]

The Washington State Department of Health worked with the local health department on a public health assessment, while the Washington State Department of Ecology continued water quality testing and coordinated with federal partners and the company on a plan to remove white liquor from the site.[24] State ecology officials were sent to the site,[25] and the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) opened an investigation.[26]

KGW in Portland reported the contamination from the implosion reached the Columbia River. Longview city officials and Washington governor Bob Ferguson said that dead carp had been recovered from dikes along the river. Citizens were advised to stay away from any dikes and ditches between Washington Way and Prudential Boulevard due to this contamination. There have been no effects on Longview's air quality and water supply.[1][27] According to Chief Scott Goldstein of Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue, the river was contaminated from the blast.[28]

Victims

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Nine people died at the scene while two others succumbed to their injuries in hospital. All nine bodies were recovered from the scene by May 31.[2] Seven workers at the facility suffered burns and inhalation injuries, along with one firefighter.[29][30] All injured victims were transferred to hospitals around Southwest Washington and Portland, Oregon, approximately forty miles (65 km) south.[21]

On May 27, five people were discharged from PeaceHealth and Legacy Health hospitals with injuries ranging from skin burns to eye and skin irritation.[31]

Reactions

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Governor Bob Ferguson visited Longview, along with Washington senator Patty Murray, Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and state representatives Jim Walsh and Jeff Wilson.[32][33] Ferguson said in a statement: "I'm deeply saddened to hear that there have been fatalities. My thoughts are with the workers and their families, and with the first responders."[25] The governor also said during a press conference in Longview, "We’re bracing ourselves for this being the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history."[31]

Aftermath

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In a report on June 16, 2026, Nippon Paper said that critical equipment was not severely damaged, and that production at the site remained halted. [34]

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 "Contamination reached Columbia River after Longview tank rupture, officials say". kgw.com. May 27, 2026. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Eleven confirmed dead in Washington state chemical accident, all bodies recovered". Reuters. May 31, 2026. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  3. ↑ Sowersby, Shauna; Swanson, Conrad; Uyehara, Kai; Cornwell, Paige (May 26, 2026). "At least 1 dead, 9 injured and 9 missing in Longview pulp mill disaster". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on May 27, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Tiny spark snuffs out lives of 17 in coal pit". Black Diamond History / Seattle Daily Times (April 14, 1930). Retrieved May 29, 2026.
  5. ↑ Dole, Bryce (May 28, 2026). "Longview disaster could be Washington's deadliest workplace tragedy in 96 years". opb. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  6. ↑ Balk, Gene (May 30, 2026). "Longview mill tragedy among worst workplace disasters in WA history". The Seattle Times. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Weyerhaeuser History". www.weyerhaeuser.com. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Annual report / Weyerhaeuser Timber Company 1953". University of Washington Foster Business Library. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Annual report / Weyerhaeuser Timber Company 1955". University of Washington Foster Business Library. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Weyerhaeuser to sell Liquid Packaging Board business to Nippon Paper Industries for $285 million in cash - Jun 15, 2016". Weyerhaeuser Investor Relations. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
  11. ↑ "One Rock Capital Partners to Acquire North Pacific Paper Company". One Rock Capital. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
  12. ↑ Donovan, Laura (May 27, 2026). "Longview paper mill's history shows deep ties to Cowlitz County". Fox13 Seattle. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
  13. ↑ Rachal, Maria (May 27, 2026). "Nippon Paper assessing impacts after deadly Washington mill implosion". Packaging Dive. Archived from the original on May 27, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Built on Experience". Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company. Retrieved May 29, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ↑ "Air quality worsens in Portland and Vancouver due to multiple fires". opb. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
  16. ↑ Ruffoni, Angela (July 19, 2023). "Fire At Longview Paper Company Will Be A 'Long Term Incident' According To Fire Fighters". KXL. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
  17. ↑ "2023 fire sparked employee maintenance concerns at Nippon Dynawave plant in Longview". KGW8. June 8, 2026. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
  18. ↑ Staff, KATU (August 25, 2025). "Firefighters called to locomotive building near Weyerhaeuser in Longview, Washington". KATU. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
  19. ↑ Hauser, Christine; Walker, Mark; Zhuang, Yan (May 26, 2026). "Deaths Reported at Washington State Paper Mill After Chemical Tank Ruptures". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  20. ↑ Anna Griffin; Billy Witz; Christine Houser; Alexandra Berzon; Christina Morales (May 27, 2026). "Nine Workers Missing After Tank Explosion at Paper Mill in Washington". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 27, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  21. 1 2 "Multiple injuries, 1 dead, 9 missing after chemical implosion at Longview paper mill". KOMO-TV. May 26, 2026. Archived from the original on May 26, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  22. ↑ KOMO News Staff (May 28, 2026). "Washington National Guard aids with decontamination during Longview mill disaster recovery". KOMO News. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Update on the National Guard presence in Longview". Facebook. Washington Emergency Management Division. May 28, 2026. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
  24. ↑ "I want to provide a brief update on state resources that are being deployed in Longview". Facebook. Governor Bob Ferguson. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
  25. 1 2 Matza, Max (May 27, 2026). "Longview explosion: one killed and nine missing after blast at paper mill". BBC. Archived from the original on May 27, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  26. ↑ "U.S. Chemical Safety Board Opens Investigation Into Fatal Chemical Tank Implosion at Nippon Dynawave Paper Mill in Washington". CSB. May 27, 2026. Archived from the original on May 27, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  27. ↑ Rush, Claire; Boone, Rebecca (May 27, 2026). "2 dead, 9 missing, no hope of survivors after Washington paper mill tank implosion". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 28, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  28. ↑ Uyehara, Kai (May 27, 2026). "Columbia River contaminated by Longview mill chemical implosion". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on May 27, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  29. ↑ Santucci, Jeanine; Yancey-Bragg, N'dea; Loria, Michael (May 27, 2026). "2 confirmed dead, 9 missing after chemical tank explosion in Washington". USA Today. Archived from the original on May 27, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  30. ↑ Hauser, Christine (May 26, 2026). "Injuries Reported After Chemical Implosion at Washington State Paper Mill". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  31. 1 2 "Live: 5 survivors released from hospitals after deadly paper mill implosion in Longview". The Seattle Times. May 27, 2026. Archived from the original on May 28, 2026. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  32. ↑ Deml, Jenna; Iacobazzi, Ariel; Kustura, Anthony (May 26, 2026). "Washington state officials, Longview community come together amid deadly implosion at packaging facility". KOIN.
  33. ↑ Goldstein-Street, Jake (May 26, 2026). "Chemical tank rupture in Cowlitz County leaves at least 1 dead, 9 missing". The Chronicle.
  34. ↑ "Notice Regarding the Incident at U.S. Subsidiary Nippon Dynawave Packaging (Sixth Update)". Nippon Paper Group. June 16, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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