Authorities in Washington state are responding to an “implosion” at a packaging plant early on Tuesday morning that killed an unknown number of people and left multiple others with chemical burns.
The Longview fire department said in a statement there was a hazardous materials incident at Nippon Dynawave Packaging that occurred when a tank containing white liquor, a chemical solution used in the paper industry, ruptured. According to the state, the plant has a kraft pulp and paper mill and liquid packaging facility, and employs roughly 1,000 employees.
In a joint statement from the fire department, Nippon Dynawave Packaging and local agencies, officials said late Tuesday morning that there were “fatalities related to the incident”.
“The scene remains in the recovery phase as emergency responders continue operations. No identifying information regarding injured or deceased individuals will be released at this time pending notification of family members,” authorities said.
Michael Gorsuch with the Longview fire department told KGW 8 earlier Tuesday that some injuries were critical and most were life-threatening.
There is “no immediate threat to the public”, the fire department said, but people should avoid the area.
The department said crews were continuing to work with Nippon employees “to mitigate the product and container involved”.
Nippon Dynawave Packaging and a county emergency management office did not immediately respond to inquiries from the Guardian.
The Washington incident comes after authorities in southern California ordered the evacuation of some 50,000 people in Garden Grove last week over fears a damaged chemical tank might explode. Orange county officials said on Monday that the threat of a major explosion had been eliminated and began lifting evacuation orders.
But officials have said there is still a threat to public safety and crews continue to work to mitigate the remaining risks.