UPDATE: May 30 at 4:15 p.m.
Representatives from responding agencies shared a new update during a press conference today on the recovery effort at Nippon Dynawave Packaging in Longview and said all remaining victims had been recovered.
Cowlitz County Coroner Dana Tucker confirmed the victims’ identities during the update.
The victims were identified as Gilbert Bernal, 52, Tyler Covington, 29, Brad Covington, 27, Robert Wilson, 48, Dillon Miller, 54, Jared Ammons, 35, Braydon Finkas, 30, Clinton Graham, 26, John Forsberg, 51 and Norman Barlow, 58.
Many of the workers came from around the region, and that loss reached far beyond the mill site.
UPDATE: May 29 at 4:45 p.m.
Longview continues to mourn victims of the papermill implosion as crews recovered a seventh missing body today and local businesses stepped in to help families affected by the disaster.
The cleanup crew’s careful work led to the latest recovery at the mill. The search continues for the remaining missing victims as families received support across the community.
Many of the workers came from around the region, and that loss reached far beyond the mill site.
Some lemonade shops, coffee shops and barbershops pledged their weekend proceeds to those families.
One of those businesses is Classic Barbering.
Owner Monica Endicott said the community response stands out as people look for ways to help.
“One thing about this community is that everyone jumps in. It’s been shocking, it’s been devastating but I guess the one little light in all of this is how everybody has come together,” said Monica Endicott.
Longview continues to mourn the papermill implosion as crews recovered a seventh missing body today and local businesses stepped in to help families affected by the disaster.
UPDATE: May 29 at 3:20 p.m.
The City of Longview has planned a press conference today at 3:30 p.m. to offer an update on the recovery of the remaining victims.
NonStop Local will provide updates from that press conference this afternoon.
Meantime, Gov. Bob Ferguson has ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff on Sunday, May 31 to honor the people killed at the Nippon Dynawave facility in Longview.
According to the announcement, the flags are set to stay at half-staff until close of business or sunset on Sunday, June 7, or first thing Monday morning, June 8.
City and state leaders also encourage people with flags at home or at businesses to join the recognition in their memory.
The city said people in some parts of Longview might notice an odor as the material mixed with water and released gas.
UPDATE: May 28 at 5:00 p.m.
The City of Longview has confirmed the city’s drinking water stayed safe and there was no immediate public health threat after Tuesday’s incident at Nippon Dynawave Packaging.
The city reported its drinking water came from protected underground aquifers about 200 feet below the surface. It also said the water treatment plant monitored water quality around the clock and was built to shut down automatically before contaminated water could reach the public system.
Department of Ecology
According to a release by the Washington Department of Ecology, city crews worked to push contaminants away from wellheads and other key water infrastructure. The city also explained that hydrant flushing was intentional and was meant to move more water through stormwater systems, dikes and drainage ditches.
That flushing helped flood ditch systems to dilute and move any remaining white liquor away from sensitive areas. The city said people in some parts of Longview might notice an odor as the material mixed with water and released gas.
The city reported that the smell was not considered toxic at the levels detected in the community.
The city also acknowledged reports of dead fish in some local sloughs. Environmental experts indicated some fish deaths are expected because of elevated pH levels tied to the released material.
Authorities confirmed a second fatality and shifted from rescue to recovery operations after an industrial incident, with nine employees still unaccounted for.
UPDATE: May 28 at 4:45 p.m.
Officials said crews have recovered the remains of six of the nine workers who were missing after a chemical tank ruptured at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. paper mill in Longview.
Meantime, Gov. Bob Ferguson said 46 members of the Washington National Guard were deployed in Longview as state agencies responded at the site. He said 10 Civil Support Team members were helping the Washington State Department of Ecology with air monitoring.
Gov. Ferguson also said results so far showed no evidence of airborne contamination. Ferguson said 20 members of the Homeland Response Force are set to help with decontamination. He said eight Fatality Search and Rescue members are also there to help with recovery.
UPDATE: May 27 at 4:25 p.m.
The confirmed death toll has risen to two with nine employees still unaccounted for as crews shift from a rescue operation to a recovery effort.
Recovery work had been paused due to structural safety concerns with a tank on site, but has since resumed as white liquor levels inside continue to decrease.
Officials describe this as likely the deadliest industrial incident in modern state history.
Crews are still trying to reach all affected parts of the facility, recovering victims and supporting families while working in unsafe conditions.
LONGVIEW, Wash. — Recovery crews are still working to stabilize the Nippon Dynawave Packaging site after a tank ruptured Tuesday morning at 3401 Industrial Way.
According to the latest update from the city of Longview, the damaged tank held about 900,000 gallons of white liquor, far more than the roughly 80,000 gallons first reported. Longview Fire and Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue estimate about 90,000 gallons may still be inside the tank.
Officials confirmed the tank remains unstable and creates dangerous conditions for emergency crews, but said no direct threat exists to the surrounding community.
10 people were taken to area hospitals. That included eight employees, one firefighter and one person who died, according to the City of Longview.
The city also said nine employees remain unaccounted for and that all identified families have been notified.
Crews are still trying to reach all affected parts of the facility, recovering victims and supporting families while working in unsafe conditions. Recovery work is set to pause overnight because of safety concerns and resume tomorrow.
ORIGINAL COVERAGE: May 27 at 4:25 p.m.