Longview Paper Mill Disaster Leaves Communities Reeling as Death Toll Rises

The Longview paper mill disaster has emerged as what officials fear could become the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history. After a tank holding corrosive chemicals ruptured at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. plant, the confirmed death toll climbed to two on Wednesday, with another nine workers presumed dead.

The catastrophe has devastated the tight-knit industrial community of Longview and left families, coworkers, and neighbors searching for answers in the wake of an almost unimaginable loss.

What Happened at the Nippon Dynawave Plant

The disaster unfolded early Tuesday morning when a massive 900,000-gallon chemical tank failed at the Longview facility. The rupture unleashed tens of thousands of gallons of white liquor, a caustic chemical used to break down wood chips into the pulp needed to make paper.

The timing made the situation especially deadly. According to Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue Fire Chief Scott Goldstein, the accident struck just 15 minutes after the 7:00 a.m. shift change, meaning the area was full of workers going about their morning routines. The affected zone included an administrative space, a break room, and several operational areas.

“They were in their workspaces when this blast occurred,” Goldstein said.

A Governor’s Grim Warning

Speaking at a Wednesday news conference, Gov. Bob Ferguson did not shy away from the gravity of the situation. He warned that the state may be facing its worst industrial loss of life in modern memory and offered heartfelt sympathy to the families affected.

The governor’s words reflected a sense of dread shared across the region as the recovery effort slowly moved forward. The sheer scale of the loss, combined with the dangerous conditions at the site, painted a sobering picture for everyone involved.

The Human Toll

Nine workers injured in the rupture were first taken to PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview. Here is how the situation unfolded for those victims:

• Four patients were transferred to other regional hospitals, including the Legacy Oregon Burn Center, for more intensive care.
• One worker was pronounced dead Tuesday after arriving at the Longview hospital.
• A second death was confirmed on Wednesday.
• Four patients treated locally have since been discharged.
• Nine additional people remain missing and are presumed dead.

The combination of confirmed deaths and missing workers has left the community bracing for far worse news in the days ahead.

A Dangerous and Delicate Recovery Effort

Recovery work has proven both difficult and hazardous. Emergency responders paused their efforts Tuesday evening out of concern for the structural stability of the collapsed tank and the ongoing risk of chemical exposure to rescue crews.

By Wednesday, officials determined the site was stable enough to begin recovering additional victims. Longview Fire Battalion Chief Matt Amos explained that recovered individuals would be decontaminated before being taken to the Cowlitz County Coroner’s office for identification and family notification. He emphasized that the process would move slowly, with each victim treated with the utmost dignity and respect.

Fire officials estimate the damaged tank still holds as much as 25,000 gallons of white liquor, less than originally feared, though it continues to slowly leak.

Remembering Gilbert Bernal

While little is publicly known about most of the victims, one name has emerged. Friends and family confirmed that Gilbert Bernal, 52, was among those killed. An instrument technician, Bernal had worked at Nippon Dynawave for more than a decade.

His story is one of dedication and quiet determination. According to his daughter, Geo Bernal, he took night classes while raising two children and working full-time at a gas station before building his career in the trades.

“He always, always talked so highly of trade school,” she recalled with a laugh, adding that he had hoped his children would follow a similar path.

Family friend Todd Cornwell described Bernal as someone who consistently went out of his way to help others. The two, along with Bernal’s wife, attended a weekly Bible study together on Tuesday nights. Cornwell shared that the group met without him this week and spent the evening reflecting on the impact he had made on their lives.

Bernal’s death has also left his family in financial uncertainty, with bills, rent, food, and other expenses now looming without his income.

A Community in Mourning

The disaster has shaken Southwest Washington’s close-knit communities to their core. Hundreds of people gathered for a vigil at a Longview park on Tuesday night, joining together in prayer, song, and shared grief.

Washington state Sen. Jeff Wilson, a Longview resident who once worked at the Nippon mill, called the event a worst-case scenario and acknowledged that the community deserves answers. He cautioned, however, that the complexity of the industrial site, crisscrossed by pipelines, power lines, and chemicals, would make the recovery a slow and challenging process.

Investigations Now Underway

Multiple investigations are now examining how the tragedy occurred and what its broader effects may be. Officials are still assessing the environmental impact after testing revealed that some of the corrosive chemical had spilled into the Columbia River.

So far, authorities report no identified negative health impacts to local air quality or the city’s drinking water system. Even so, the public is being urged to stay away from the area, including nearby dikes and ditches, due to the risk of chemical exposure.

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board announced Wednesday that it had opened a formal investigation into what it called a fatal chemical tank implosion. The independent federal agency dispatched a team to Longview to determine the cause and identify ways to prevent similar disasters in the future.

Balancing Accountability and Livelihoods

The mill is a cornerstone of the local economy. Nippon purchased the facility from Weyerhaeuser in 2016 for $285 million, and it now employs roughly 1,000 people, split between pulp and paper operations and a liquid packaging plant that produces items like cardboard milk cartons.

U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, who represents the area, stressed that while a thorough investigation is essential, it should not become the “last straw for a viable mill.” She noted that residents have watched mill after mill shut down across the state and called for a clear plan to fix safety failures so workers can return home safely each night.

Brian Wood, director of support services for Nippon Dynawave, made the company’s first public remarks Wednesday, pledging full cooperation with investigators. “These are our people,” he said, emphasizing that the company’s focus remained on recovering those still missing.

A Long Road Ahead

The Longview paper mill disaster has left an indelible mark on a community defined by its industrial roots and close relationships. As recovery efforts continue and investigations unfold, residents are left grappling with grief, unanswered questions, and the difficult task of rebuilding trust.

For now, the focus remains on honoring the lives lost and supporting the families left behind, even as the full scope of this tragedy continues to come into view.

This is a developing story and may be updated as new information becomes available.