LONGVIEW, Wash. (KATU) — The first victim in the Washington state chemical implosion on Tuesday has been identified by his family.
Gilbert Bernal was killed after “an implosion involving a vat of chemical treatment product” at a paper mill in Longview, the family told ABC News.
A family friend who set up a GoFundMe called Bernal “one of the best people I have ever met.”
“He was a Godly man in every sense of the word,” the website reads. “All the funds raised will be used for funeral expenses and other needs for the family.”
At a vigil Tuesday night, KATU News spoke with Mandy Davison, whose husband works at another nearby paper mill. She said she feels for the families, knowing there is always a fear that their loved ones may not return home because of how dangerous the job can be.
“If you have a spouse or a child who works at one of these mills, as generally safe as these mills are, you still kiss them goodbye every single morning or every single night before their shift, and you just pray, ‘God, please keep them safe today,’” Davison said.
A firefighter who was taken to the hospital with injuries from the response has since been released. However, nine others remain unaccounted after the explosion, authorities announced.
Crews said they will begin recovery efforts on Wednesday morning once the tank is stabilized.
Longview Fire Department said crews responded following the rupture of a tank containing white liquor at the Nippon Dynawave facility at 7:15 a.m. Preliminary information indicated the rupture resulted in “multiple critical injuries.”