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Eight dead and three missing after devastating paper mill explosion in Longview, Washington
Eight people have been confirmed dead and three remain unaccounted for after a catastrophic explosion at a paper mill in Longview, Washington. The blast caused a chemical spill of white liquor into nearby waterways, with dead fish observed in affected ditches.
Eight people have been confirmed dead and three remain unaccounted for following a catastrophic explosion at a paper mill in Longview, Washington. Recovery teams have retrieved six bodies so far but continue working through an extremely complex and hazardous industrial site to locate the remaining victims.
The explosion caused a spill of white liquor, a highly caustic chemical used in paper manufacturing, into the surrounding ditch network. The EPA confirmed that a limited amount of the substance reached the Columbia River in the first minutes of the incident before the outfall was shut off. Dead fish have been observed in the affected waterways.
EPA officials said the water in the Columbia River is currently safe for swimming and fishing, with no advisories in place. However, they warned that the high pH levels in the ditch system remain dangerous and urged people to stay away from those areas. Monitoring stations recorded pH levels of 7 and 8.5, with plans to intervene if levels reach 9.
Recovery operations are described as extremely labour-intensive due to the hazardous conditions at the blast site. Teams can only make limited entries into the scene each day, carefully locking out and isolating industrial hazards before proceeding. Officials expressed confidence they are making good progress but could not estimate when all victims would be recovered.
The Washington Department of Ecology has set up an incident website for regular updates, accessible through their Facebook page. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation as emergency responders continue their work at the devastated facility, as reported by Fox News.