MYNORTHWEST NEWS
Final body recovered at chemical tank implosion site at Longview paper mill

May 30, 2026, 3:45 PM | Updated: 5:59 pm


(Photo courtesy of the Washington State Department of Ecology)

BY BRITTANY PERRY, KIRO 7 NEWS AND LEXI HERDA, KIRO 7 NEWS
MyNorthwest.com

LONGVIEW, Wash. — The final deceased worker has been recovered from the Nippon Dynawave packaging plant in Longview, where a chemical tank exploded earlier this week. Officials gave an update on Saturday.

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On Friday, officials shared that they’re using vacuum trucks and hundreds of feet of hose to clean up the water and chemical mixtures that have impeded their recovery efforts. As a result, they reached new areas today that they haven’t yet been able to access.

Agencies met with Nippon Dynawave’s cleanup team Friday to discuss next steps after the recovery mission has concluded. They did not share the details of what that will look like.

The Environmental Protection Agency also shared an update on the PH concerns in surrounding dikes and ditches. They said last night’s flushing efforts have made improvements and the last two rounds of results show the PH levels are back in a normal range for most areas.

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