LONGVIEW, Wash. (KATU) — The remains of six of the nine workers missing in the blast at the Nippon paper mill in Longview earlier this week have been recovered, officials said Thursday afternoon, bringing the total number of confirmed dead to eight.
Recovery efforts continued all day following the catastrophic failure of a large chemical tank at the facility on Tuesday.
Longview Fire Chief Brad Hannig said during a Thursday afternoon news conference that each person recovered from the facility is decontaminated before being taken to the Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office for identification and family notification.
“The priority is ensuring responder safety while treating every victim with the greatest dignity care and respect possible,” he said.
Hannig said crews are working to recover each person as soon as possible, but the facility continues to be a hazardous environment.
The death toll so far could be as high as 11, which would make it the deadliest industrial disaster in Washington State history.
Before Thursday, officials had confirmed only two people had died. Those two individuals died at the hospital from injuries suffered in the blast.
The implosion happened Tuesday around 7:15 a.m. According to investigators, a large vat of white liquor imploded, causing severe injuries, chemical burns, and extensive damage to the Nippon facility.
White liquor is a corrosive chemical solution commonly used in paper and pulp processing.
Ten people were confirmed to have been injured in the initial update from first responders, including nine Nippon employees and one firefighter. Two of the Nippon employees succumbed to their injuries at the hospital. The conditions of the seven other employees are unknown. The injured firefighter was treated and released.
Contamination from the implosion has been confirmed by testing in the Columbia River, based on pH testing of the water. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) announced Wednesday that it has opened an investigation into the May 26 incident. Investigators are expected to arrive at the mill on Wednesday.
Crews are working to dilute the contaminated water by adding water from the Cowlitz River and fire hydrants to it. They say they are diluting it to a level where it can be safely discharged into the Columbia River.
Longview City Officials issued a press release Thursday morning, reassuring residents that the city’s water was safe.
“Our water treatment and delivery systems are specifically designed with multiple layers of protection and continuous monitoring,” said Public Works Director Chris Collins. “The drinking water being delivered to homes and businesses today is the same safe water our community had last week.”
READ MORE | EPA works to keep drinking water safe after deadly chemical tank rupture at Longview mill
The cause of the blast is still under investigation.
This story will be updated.
