Trending Now - Longview Mill Community Grieves Loss of 11 Workers in Tragedy
WHO:
KOMO - The victims of the chemical tank collapse included Tyler Covington, 29; Brad Covington, 27; Gilbert Bernal, 52; John Forsberg, 51; Clinton Doran, 26; Jared Ammons, 35; Braydon Finkas, 38; Robert Wilson, 48; Dale Miller, 54; Norman Barlow, 58; and Dillon Miller.
OPB - Brian Wood is the director of support services for Nippon Dynawave and a city councilor in nearby Kelso.
OPB - Josh Estes is the head of the local chapter of the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers union.
OPB - John Bresland is the former chair of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board.
WHAT:
KOMO - The chemical tank failure at the Nippon Dynawave facility has been described as one of the deadliest workplace accidents in the United States in recent decades.
NBC News - All missing victims have been recovered, with the final body found on the fifth day following the incident.
OPB - The Longview Fire Chief Brad Hannig confirmed the recovery of the final missing employee during a news conference.
KOMO - A chemical tank failure at the Nippon Dynawave facility in Longview resulted in the deaths of 11 workers.
KOMO - The tank contained more than 500,000 gallons of a highly destructive chemical mixture used in paper manufacturing.
OPB - The chemical disaster involved a rupture that spilled hundreds of thousands of gallons of caustic chemical.
OPB - The Longview plant has been using a chemical mixture for over 70 years.
OPB - Nippon Dynawave has incurred $3,400 in fines from workplace investigators since 2021.
WHERE:
KOMO - The incident occurred at the Nippon Dynawave facility in Longview, Washington.
OPB - The plant is located on the Columbia River in Longview, Washington.
WHEN:
KOMO - The chemical tank collapse occurred on a Tuesday morning.
OPB - The U.S. Chemical Safety Board investigators arrived on site on a Wednesday following the incident.
OPB - The most recent version of the safety plan was updated in June 2025.
WHY:
OPB - Investigators are examining the tank for potential issues, including the possibility of a plugged relief valve that could have caused the tank to collapse inward.
OPB - Investigators are examining the tank for potential issues such as cracks, corrosion, or venting problems that may have led to the collapse.
OPB - Experts suggest that the incident likely resulted from a complex mix of factors, including the tank's condition and timing during a shift change.
HOW:
OPB - The tank is reported to have collapsed inward, similar to a plastic water bottle when suction is applied, rather than exploding outward.
OPB - The chemical process at the mill involves cooking wood chips with a mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide to create a caustic chemical known as "white liquor."
OPB - The tank is described as having collapsed inward, similar to a plastic water bottle when suction is applied.
(UPDATED May 31, 2026 09:47 UTC)
The chemical tank failure at the Nippon Dynawave facility has been described as one of the deadliest workplace accidents in the United States in recent decades, with all missing victims now recovered; the final body was found on the fifth day following the incident. Longview Fire Chief Brad Hannig confirmed this recovery during a news conference, while investigators are looking into potential issues with the tank, including the possibility of a plugged relief valve that may have caused it to collapse inward. This collapse occurred in a manner similar to a plastic water bottle when suction is applied, rather than resulting in an explosion outward.
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(UPDATED May 31, 2026 08:02 UTC)
A tragic chemical tank failure at the Nippon Dynawave facility in Longview, Washington, has resulted in the deaths of 11 workers, including Tyler Covington, Brad Covington, and Gilbert Bernal, among others. The tank, which contained over 500,000 gallons of a highly destructive chemical mixture used in paper manufacturing, ruptured and spilled hundreds of thousands of gallons of caustic material, prompting an investigation into potential issues like cracks and corrosion. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board is on-site examining the incident, which experts believe may have stemmed from a complex mix of factors, including the tank's condition and the timing during a shift change.