11 presumed dead in Washington state paper mill implosion as rescue shifts to recovery

Washington was bracing for the state’s ‘deadliest industrial tragedy,’ Gov. Bob Ferguson said following the rupture of a tank at the Nippon Dynawave plant.

No survivors are expected to be found at a Washington state manufacturing plant after a chemical tank implosion, according to officials, who said Wednesday that a second death had been confirmed and that nine other people are presumed dead.

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The 11 likely deaths in Tuesday’s implosion at the paper mill in Longview would make it the deadliest industrial accident in modern state history, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson said.

Cowlitz County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein said at a news conference Wednesday, “We have declared this incident a transition from rescue to recovery as of this morning.”