Explosion at Washington Paper Mill Claims 11 Lives

Officials announced on Saturday that the remains of two workers missing after a blast at a Washington State paper mill have been recovered. This incident at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging pulp and paper mill in Longview, Washington increased the death toll to 11.

Originally, two workers were confirmed dead, while nine others were unaccounted for after the Tuesday explosion of a tank containing 600,000 gallons of “white liquor,” a caustic chemical used in processing wood chips into board material for juice cartons. The site is located on the Columbia River in southwestern Washington.

The complex search for the missing workers continued all week amid hazardous conditions. Rescue teams required special protective attire and had to undergo decontamination procedures due to the chemicals still present at the site.

During a news conference on Saturday, Dana Tucker, the Cowlitz County coroner, identified the victims. The deceased were Gilbert Bernal, 52; Tyler Covington, 29; Brad Covington, 27; Robert Wilson, 48; Dale Miller, 54; Jared Ammons, 35; Braydon Finkas, 38; Clinton Doran, 26; John Forsberg, 51; Norman Barlow, 58; and Dillon Miller, whose age was not provided. Most victims were in a common area for daily task assignments when the explosion occurred.

By Thursday, officials had already recovered the bodies of seven workers. Rescue crews continued navigating the damaged facility, clearing away debris and heavy items to find the remaining two individuals on Saturday. Kurt Stitch, deputy chief of Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue, shared these updates during the press event.

Tucker noted that identifying the Saturday-recovered remains involved several methods, including dental records, though the full forensic process is still ongoing.

“This work has been intense,” Chief Stitch stated. “It’s been methodical and extremely challenging for all involved.”

The disaster ranks as one of the most lethal industrial incidents in recent history. Nippon Dynawave is working with authorities to determine the explosion’s cause.

Concerns have arisen regarding the future of the mill, which employs about 550 workers, as well as the potential economic impact this might have on the local community. Paper mills serve as a key source of jobs in the area, although economic shifts and globalization have led to many closures in recent years.

Environmental officials from federal and state agencies have been present on the scene since Tuesday, observing the air and water for chemical pollutants. Authorities confirmed that drinking water remains safe, but advised avoiding waterways associated with the storm drainage infrastructure, which had been contaminated.

There was minimal concern regarding the contamination of the Columbia River, credited to its vast size, which reduces risk.