Nine Missing After Chemical Tank Explosion in Washington State Paper Mill

Washington. Search for the nine missing people after a fatal chemical tank explosion at a paper industry in Washington state, USA, has resumed. Officials suspect they are dead.

At least two people were confirmed dead and 8 others injured when a chemical tank with a capacity of 900,000 gallons exploded at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company's factory in Longview on Tuesday morning.

Officials said that after the incident, hazardous chemicals inside the tank spread outside, polluting the Columbia River. The river is considered the lifeline of the Pacific Northwest region of America. The tank contained a chemical called 'white liquor' used in the paper production process. This substance can cause second and third-degree burns on the skin. Officials said its thick vapor could be dangerous if inhaled into the body.

According to police and fire officials, the tank is now stable and the search operation has resumed as the risk of further explosions has decreased. According to Matt Amos, an official from the Longview Fire Department, the operation will now proceed slowly, systematically, and cautiously.

After the missing persons are found, their bodies will be sent to the relevant office for post-mortem examination. The family of one of the deceased, Gilbert Bernal, has identified him. According to his daughter Giovanna Bernal-Ferguson, the family identified the body at the hospital through photos, although formal confirmation is still pending.