WASHINGTON, D.C., May 31 (ANI/WAM) — The death toll from a chemical tank rupture at an industrial facility in Washington state has risen to 11 after recovery crews located the bodies of all nine previously missing individuals, authorities said Saturday.
Two deaths had been confirmed earlier following the implosion of a tank containing “white liquor,” a chemical solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide used in the production of paper pulp, at a Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility on Tuesday.
Search and recovery operations continued throughout the week as crews worked through debris inside the facility and used drones to survey the surrounding area, according to Kurt Stitch, deputy chief of Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue.
The ruptured tank contained approximately 900,000 gallons (3.4 million liters) of white liquor.
Officials said testing confirmed that contamination entered the nearby Columbia River. However, authorities reported that no adverse impacts have been detected on air quality or on the drinking water supply for the city of Longview.
Investigations into the cause of the accident are ongoing. (ANI/WAM)
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