Tragic Chemical Tank Collapse Claims Many Lives

“We’re bracing ourselves for this being the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington State history. When you have a tragedy of that scale, the impacts on individuals, on families, and on communities is profound.”

— Bob Ferguson, Governor of Washington 

Emergency responders have recovered the bodies of several victims following an industrial accident at a pulp and paper facility in Washington State last week. On the morning of May 26, a large industrial tank at the site failed and released about 550,000 gallons of “white liquor”—a corrosive chemical solution composed mainly of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide that is used to break down wood chips. 

Nine employees were reportedly unaccounted for after the incident. Sadly, responders do not believe that any of these employees survived. Others exposed to the release, including one firefighter, were hospitalized with injuries like chemical burns and eye irritation. 

At this time, it is not known what caused the tank to rupture and implode. The US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) opened an investigation into the disaster, with CSB personnel arriving on scene the day after the incident occurred.

Environmental Contamination 

Reports indicate that some of the released chemical reached a nearby river as well as several ditches and dikes in the area. Officials are monitoring the pH level of water in the area.  The Washington Department of Ecology assured residents that “There is currently no concern that drinking water supplies have been impacted…” 

US EPA, with help from local and state agencies, was working last week to dilute the spilled liquid with water and prevent contamination of drinking water aquifers. Once sufficiently diluted, the water can be discharged safely to the Columbia River via a system of ditches. 

A Second Chemical Tank Scare 

The tragic, fatal accident in Washington State was one of two emergency incidents involving large chemical tanks recently. 

On May 21 in Orange County, California, emergency responders were called to an aerospace manufacturing plant where a tank holding thousands of gallons of methyl methacrylate was in danger of failing or exploding. Methyl methacrylate is a toxic, flammable chemical used to make plastic. The tank’s cooling system had failed, causing a buildup of heat and pressure inside. 

The threat of a major incident led officials to evacuate more than 40,000 residents as a precaution and the Governor of California to issue a state of emergency. All those evacuated have since been allowed to return to their homes. In this case, responders were able to eliminate the threat of a large-scale spill or explosion—thanks in part to a crack discovered in the tank that acted like a pressure relief valve.

Officials now say there is no active chemical leak from the tank, and that the risk of an explosion has been eliminated.