A catastrophic chemical tank rupture at Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company's pulp and paper mill in Longview, Washington, has left two dead and nine missing, raising urgent supply-chain concerns for buyers of paper packaging materials. The incident, involving a spill of up to 570,000 gallons of corrosive white liquor, has disrupted operations at a key facility that supplies raw materials for liquid packaging cartons and cups used globally in dairy, juice, and beverage markets.
Incident overview
On May 26, around 7:18 a.m. local time, a tank holding approximately 900,000 gallons of white liquor—a mixture of sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfide, and disodium carbonate—ruptured at the Longview facility. Initially believed to contain 600,000 gallons, the tank was about 60% full when it failed. Officials later revised the escaped volume to between 550,000 and 570,000 gallons, with 25,000 gallons remaining inside the damaged tank. The explosion occurred near a shift change, damaging vehicles, buildings, and equipment.
Casualties and missing persons
Two fatalities have been confirmed, and nine individuals remain unaccounted for as of May 27. Ten people were transported to hospitals, including seven employees and one firefighter. The firefighter has since been treated and released. Governor Bob Ferguson stated that officials are bracing for this to be the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history.
Environmental and community impact
Contaminated material entered the Columbia River in two spikes shortly after the rupture, as confirmed by plant officials and the Washington State Department of Ecology. Water testing is underway, and the public is advised to avoid ditches and dikes in the city. Officials report no negative impacts to surrounding air quality or Longview's drinking water system. A community vigil was held on May 26.
Supply-chain impact
Nippon Dynawave Packaging employs about 550 people, with 450 at the Longview liquid packaging plant. The facility produces raw materials for cartons and cups used in liquid packaging for milk, juice, coffee, and sake. The prolonged shutdown and recovery efforts may disrupt supply to downstream packaging manufacturers and formulators, particularly those sourcing from the Pacific Northwest. Buyers should monitor for potential delays or allocation changes.
What buyers should watch
Overseas importers and distributors of paper packaging materials should track updates from Nippon Dynawave and the Washington State Department of Ecology regarding restart timelines. The spill's impact on the Columbia River may also trigger regulatory scrutiny under the Clean Water Act, potentially affecting logistics and compliance for chemical shipments in the region. Alternative sourcing from other pulp mills in North America may be necessary if the outage extends.
Source: Read the original report | Published: May 27, 2026