Officials on Wednesday were seeking to account for nine missing workers one day after a tank imploded at a paper mill in southern Washington, killing at least one person and injuring nine others.
It was unclear whether the missing were working at the time of the accident or were somewhere else and have not been reached. But recovery efforts have been complicated by the release of about 500,000 gallons of a highly caustic chemical at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging plant in the town of Longview, near the Oregon border about 45 minutes north of Portland. The plant makes wood pulp and paper board for packaging and cartons.
The Longview Fire Department said the 900,000-gallon tank of chemicals imploded just after 7 a.m. on Tuesday. Officials said later that about 90,000 gallons of materials remained inside the tank and hindered the recovery efforts that had been expected to resume on Wednesday morning.
It was unclear what caused the implosion, but there was no direct risk to the surrounding community, officials said. Still, they urged residents to avoid the area or nearby ditches that might contain the chemical.
Eight employees and one firefighter were taken to hospitals, some with severe injuries, officials said. The firefighter has been released, Matt Amos, a shift battalion chief with the Longview Fire Department, said on Tuesday.
The chemical that was released is known as “white liquor,” a solution mainly of sodium sulfide and sodium hydroxide that helps break down wood chips into pulp. It can cause second- or third-degree burns on contact with skin and can be dangerous if inhaled, Mr. Amos said on Tuesday.
A person who answered the phone at the Nippon mill declined to comment on Tuesday.
Mark Walker, Yan Zhuang and Anna Griffin contributed reporting.
Christine Hauser is a Times reporter who writes breaking news and features.
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