Recovery efforts at a Longview, Washington paper mill have claimed another victim, bringing the confirmed death toll to nine with two workers still missing following a catastrophic chemical tank rupture on Tuesday morning.
The collapse of a storage tank containing more than 500,000 gallons of white liquor, a caustic chemical used in paper production, devastated the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company facility. The rupture was powerful enough to overturn vehicles and damage nearby structures. White liquor causes severe chemical burns on contact and can damage lungs when its vapors are inhaled.
Friday's recovery marked the continuation of painstaking search operations that located six additional bodies the previous day. Fire Battalion Chief Matt Amos noted that the effort remains slow and methodical, hampered by hazards from lingering chemicals and structural damage to the industrial site. Recovery crews have established exclusion zones near the damaged tank while working with engineers to identify which buildings are safe to enter.
Each recovery requires decontamination of remains before transfer to the coroner's office, adding to the complexity of identification efforts. Searchers themselves must undergo decontamination procedures.
Though authorities have not released official names, families and friends have begun confirming identities through social media and fundraising campaigns. Among those presumed killed were brothers Tyler and Brad Covington, who worked at the plant together. Friends described Tyler as a devoted husband and father of three.
Gilbert Bernal, an electrician and grandfather, was the first confirmed fatality. Friend Todd Cornwell remembered him as exceptionally generous. John Forsberg, a regular at local trivia competitions at Ashtown Brewing, was known for his knowledge and sportsmanship. The brewery announced plans to rename its trivia trophy in his honor.
Other victims included CJ Doran, 26, described as his family's spiritual leader and provider, and Jared Ammons, who had two children with another on the way. Braydon Finkas, an electrician who had relocated to the area four years earlier to build a home and launch a farm operation, was remembered for his quick integration into the rural community and willingness to help neighboring farmers.
Eight people suffered injuries in the blast, including a firefighter. Some experienced chemical burns or inhalation injuries.
The incident ranks among the deadliest U.S. workplace disasters in recent memory. The parent company, Nippon Paper Group, offered condolences to bereaved families in a statement Friday. Federal and state authorities are investigating the cause of the tank failure.
Author James Rodriguez: "Nine dead and still counting in what may be the worst industrial accident this country has seen in years, yet we're learning about these victims through GoFundMe posts and brewery tributes rather than from plant operators who should have seen this coming."
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